Technical Specifications

Application

The focus application consists of the following:

• Web based components (e-learning) for balanced scorecards, 360 assessments, performance management, development & career planning, resource guide, and succession planning.  There are also components for benchmarking, career planning, and performance management.  There is also a resource guide.

• Two Windows client/server applications for the Core data and Job profiling.  Core data allows for the administration for employee, position, and skills data.  Depending on the installation, the applications either utilize Microsoft's Data Access Components (MDAC) if connecting to the SQL database over the Internet or ODBC if connecting to the SQL database locally.

• focus is proud to be built upon Microsoft techologies. Including Microsoft Server 2003, Windows Microsoft Sql Server 2005, Microsoft ASP.NET, Active Server Pages and Microsoft Reporting Services 2005.

User Types

• Administrators have access to all of focus.
  
• Standard Users have access to the Web-based components.

 Requirements

Web based components require IE v6.0 or higher or Mozilla Firefox v1.5 or higher or higher

Window client/server modules (minimum requirements):

• All 32bit Microsoft Windows operating systems.
  Business Decisions, Inc. recommends using Microsoft Vista and Microsoft Windows Server 2008 for enhanced security and performance.
• Pentium/400 MHz
• 96 MB RAM
• 500 MB available hard-disk space

Servers supported (local installations only)

• Microsoft SQL Server 2005
• Microsoft SQL Server 2008
• Microsoft IIS Web Server v5.0, v5.1, v6.0 or v7.0
• Microsoft MTS v1.x or greater

Network Platforms supported (local installations only)

• Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
• Microsoft Windows 2003 Server
• Microsoft Windows 2008 Server
• Novell® NetWare

Installation options

• ASP.NET option - focus is hosted remotely.  The following is provided by BDI: Database and Web servers, administration of servers, database backup (daily incremental and weekend full), and security via an SSL certificate
• Local installation - customer is responsible for server hardware and administration of servers