Scope Freeze!

As of today we have frozen the Release 1 scope. What does this mean in non-technical language? It means that major development on ZIMS Release 1 is now complete. From this point forward, the work (still difficult) involves detailed testing and fixing “bugs.” ZIMS is on schedule for delivery of Release 1 in March 2010.

ZIMS is now entering the early stages of deployment. ZIMS deployment is a two-step process:

• In March, 2010 all ISIS members will begin accessing the ZIMS database. Even while your staff is still using ARKS, that data will enter into and ZIMS and you will retrieve information from ISIS via the ZIMS database. All ISIS members will be “on” ZIMS at this moment.



• At that time, ISIS members will begin transitioning from entering data into ARKS software to using the ZIMS interface for data entry, along an orderly schedule. This will involve training your staff to use the new ZIMS software.



• You will need to make some important decisions regarding your own institution’s transition to ZIMS. The start of that process is the “ZIMS Readiness Assessment Survey” which your institution will be receiving within the next few weeks.