Professional Analysis and Consulting Services (PACS)

The Professional Analysis and Consulting Services program provides our clients with new ideas and perspectives required to get a project off the ground by solidifying and clarifying the basic concepts and objectives.

Since its founding in 1970, Diversified Data Systems has accumulated tremendous expertise in various industry disciplines. We offer this wealth of knowledge to our clients via our Professional Analysis and Consulting Services (PACS) program.

PACS is designed to augment the client's own planning teams with trained professionals. The ability of the PACS team members to produce results in a timely manner will greatly enhance the decision making capability of management personnel.

PACS begins with an On Site Requirements Analysis by DDS consultants and/or analysts. During this step, the PACS team will investigate the various aspects of the project by performing the following activities:

• Interview management staff
• Interview technical staff
• Tour the client facilities
• Visit remote site locations where applicable
• Gather and review all pertinent forms
• Examine the current system data flow
• Examine the current system hardware environment
• Determine the current cost accounting methods

PACS utilizes many of the Touche Ross & Co. project planning techniques to insure that all necessary information is gathered, by following the extensive assortment of checklists.

PACS utilizes many of the methodologies for structured analysis and structured design as defined by Yourdon and De Marco. These techniques insure a systematic, thorough, and concise analysis of the gathered information.

PACS produces a formal report of the findings of the On Site Requirements Analysis. This report becomes a valuable tool when further design and implementation plans are contemplated.

The senior member of the PACS team will organize the findings of the initial investigation into a concise document that will include the following:

Present System Review

• Intra and inter organizational relationships
• Staffing levels and functions
• Major inputs and outputs to the system
• Problem areas in the system
• Costs and cost recovery methods in the system

New System Preliminary Requirements

• Identify minimum objectives
• Define output requirements
• Define new system conceptual approaches
• Define input element sizes and sources
• Outline possible changes in staffing functions
• Summarize organizational implications
• Summarize environmental implications

Technical and Economic Feasibility Evaluation

• Document data management approach
• Describe hardware/software characteristics
• Estimate remote communications requirements
• Identify Applications Package availability
• Derive life cycle costs or total cost of ownership
• Estimate new system investment payback interval

PACS is offered on a fixed fee basis or on a time and material basis. Contact a DDS Application Representative for estimates and quotations.