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? 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. 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 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. Regards, -- IanL

"It's a school, how many blank cheques today?"

- Kyle

...

===== Original Message From Alan Harris ===== OK Guys,

Heres the crunch - SIMS have 90-95% of market share and will only support Microsoft and are dictating software policy to schools. Sounds like an antitrust case to me - how about we petition / complain to our MP's and request that the OFT look into a possible abuse of 'power' here?

I'm up for a fight if anyone want's to join me......

Alan

BTW: Secure IE? don't make me laugh - IE's secure layer is vulerable to 'man in the middle' attacks - it's been in most computer newspapers etc.

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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