Mailinglist Archive: opensuse-edu (92 mails)
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Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Capita SIMS - School Admin Microsoft Only?
- From: "Mark Evans" <mpe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 19 Sep 2002 09:23:25 +0000 (UTC)
- Message-id: <20020919092256.25659.qmail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> On Thursday 19 September 2002 01:38, k.williamson wrote:
> > IMHO, SIMS is not so much a bad system, FMS is horribly useful, and we
> > totally rely on it.
> >
> > I just wish they didnt tie themslevels down to Microsoft Products.
> > "superSTAR" (as claimed below) is Microsoft .NET, FMS is some wierd SQL
> > implementation, Most of our SIMS is wierd old DBASE files, and frankly its
> > an utter mess.
> >
> > Yes, I'd like to see Capita driven to allow other programs to patch on to
> > its databasing, etc. I'd also like to see Capita Compitable Alternatives.
>
> Especially when there really isn't an excuse not to have it. For a company
> the size of Capita, why does it take 10s of years to develop a fairly
> straightforward SQL data base that is technically well-documented?
Unless it's a sign of big companies being inefficent when it comes
to producing software.
> Because its only in the customers interest not theirs to do it and without
> proper competition there is little incentive. The DfES could do 2 things to
> change the situation.
The DfES getting involved would certainly address the issue we have
of LEA acceptance.
> 1. Only approve school admin software that uses a standard SQL data base that
> is fully documented and open with a time scale of say 18 months to
> implementation.
>
> 2. Put a small amount of money, say £1m into say 2 independent open source
> projects to provide a starting point for competition.
>
> Given the revenues from schools for SIMS over the years, £1m is a small
> amount of money and since te Gov is keen on Public Private Partnerships this
> would fit the model, government finance but with competing private sector
All too often government, at all levels, likes to make exceptions
for software. At least in my experience.
> interests. Capita would be free to bid for some of the 1 million subject to
> the same constrains as everyone else, ie the final product is open source. It
> would be perfectly feasible to be profitable on selling services and support
> without the need for licensing. If they don't want to do it, plenty of others
> will.
--
Mark Evans
St. Peter's CofE High School
Phone: +44 1392 204764 X109
Fax: +44 1392 204763
> > IMHO, SIMS is not so much a bad system, FMS is horribly useful, and we
> > totally rely on it.
> >
> > I just wish they didnt tie themslevels down to Microsoft Products.
> > "superSTAR" (as claimed below) is Microsoft .NET, FMS is some wierd SQL
> > implementation, Most of our SIMS is wierd old DBASE files, and frankly its
> > an utter mess.
> >
> > Yes, I'd like to see Capita driven to allow other programs to patch on to
> > its databasing, etc. I'd also like to see Capita Compitable Alternatives.
>
> Especially when there really isn't an excuse not to have it. For a company
> the size of Capita, why does it take 10s of years to develop a fairly
> straightforward SQL data base that is technically well-documented?
Unless it's a sign of big companies being inefficent when it comes
to producing software.
> Because its only in the customers interest not theirs to do it and without
> proper competition there is little incentive. The DfES could do 2 things to
> change the situation.
The DfES getting involved would certainly address the issue we have
of LEA acceptance.
> 1. Only approve school admin software that uses a standard SQL data base that
> is fully documented and open with a time scale of say 18 months to
> implementation.
>
> 2. Put a small amount of money, say £1m into say 2 independent open source
> projects to provide a starting point for competition.
>
> Given the revenues from schools for SIMS over the years, £1m is a small
> amount of money and since te Gov is keen on Public Private Partnerships this
> would fit the model, government finance but with competing private sector
All too often government, at all levels, likes to make exceptions
for software. At least in my experience.
> interests. Capita would be free to bid for some of the 1 million subject to
> the same constrains as everyone else, ie the final product is open source. It
> would be perfectly feasible to be profitable on selling services and support
> without the need for licensing. If they don't want to do it, plenty of others
> will.
--
Mark Evans
St. Peter's CofE High School
Phone: +44 1392 204764 X109
Fax: +44 1392 204763
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