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IRM Management Series

Sponsored by the Department of Information Resources

XML Forum for Texas State and Local Government

Wednesday, October 16, 2002
8:30am - 4:30pm

Austin, Texas

Cosponsored by TASSCC



AGENDA WITH SESSION DESCRIPTIONS

8:00-8:30

Registration Check-In, Continental Breakfast, Exhibits Open

8:30-9:00

Introduction & Welcoming Remarks
Mel Mireles, Director of Enterprise Operations, Texas Department of Information Resources

9:00-10:00


Morning
Keynote

Simplicity from Complexity
Bill Ruh, Senior Vice President, Software AG

Does XML (and web services) fundamentally change the way agencies and organizations share data? How should architecture of systems change if XML and web services are the fundamental technologies that we will use for integration? Recent surveys show 3 out of 4 uses of XML have been for integration. This session will deal with the changes being brought about by XML in the world of integration. These changes are fundamental and will have the same influence that TCP/IP, Ethernet and HTML protocols have had on our system architectures. The session will include a discussion on the change to system architectures, the new integration standards being created based upon XML, and several interesting case studies of how organizations are building cost effective integration solutions.

10:00-10:15

Morning Break & Exhibit Area Open

10:15-11:15


Featured
Presentation

Navigating the XML Content Management Jungle: a Survival Guide
Barry A. Schaeffer, President, X.Systems.Inc,

As the Internet moves from presentation medium to dynamic content provider, content issues are moving to the forefront of many IT managers' thinking. Among the most difficult of these issues is what has been long referred to as "content management" or CM, the rock on which many an IT budget or project schedule has foundered. To escape a similar fate, IT managers must be armed with a clearer picture of CM. This session will present a survival guide addressing: Why is CM is important; How to avoid pitfalls; Content vs. Delivery Management; Building your Content Management Function List; and Dealing with Vendors.

11:15 - 12:30

Lunch (on your own) – Exhibits Open

12:30 - 1:30



Afternoon
Keynote

What is the OJP Data Dictionary? Where did it come from? Where is it going? Why should you care?
Gary Poindexter,  Manager, KPMG Consulting's State and Local Government Practice

What are the differences between an exchange standard and a data storage standard? What is the justification for using a tagged (XML) standard over other, older data exchange technologies? This session will provide background information on the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) justice XML Data Dictionary. The discussion will conclude with challenges faced in implementing justice XML standards based solutions. It isn't magic and it isn't painless but it far superior to the alternatives.  Real world examples will be used to illustrate the challenges including Texas Online, the New Hampshire J-ONE Integrated Justice Information System and the Massachusetts Department of Safety Integrated Justice Exchange Standard.

1:30 - 2:30


Featured
Presentation

Web services, Authentication and Infrastructure Integration
Justin Taylor, Corporate Technology Strategist, Novell

Integrating directory based information and services with XML, the Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration (UDDI) and the Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) protocols, engines and languages are key technologies for the integration for web services, authentication and infrastructure integration. This session will address how these technologies work together and also highlight the role of the Liberty Alliance and their role in shaping the future of web services standards and technologies.

2:30 - 2:45

Break (Refreshments Provided) - Exhibit Area Open

2:45 - 4:15

Panel
Discussion
XML and Herding Cats

The XML family of standards has the potential for ensuring the interoperability of data exchanges, location of specific services, managing web content and the presentation of information to browsers and wireless devices. However the General Accounting Office (GAO) report "Electronic Government: Challenges to Effective Adoption of the Extensible Markup Language." Agencies face four XML challenges, according to the report:

  • There is no explicit government wide strategy for XML adoption, which could make it impossible for agencies' XML systems to talk to each other in the future.
  • No consolidated set of government XML requirements is ready to present to standards-setting bodies.
  • There is no registry of XML data structures, although an interagency working group is developing one.
  • XML implementation needs to be adapted to enterprise architectures.

The DIR assessment of XML use in government addressed the need for identifying core (Enterprise) data standards, and the need for a registry. The initial set of the Texas core elements were taken from the OJP Data Dictionary. Panel members will address what they view as critical issues to the adoption of XML and ensuring interoperability across the enterprise.

4:15 – 4:30

Wrap Up & Adjourn