The SQL Applications Documentation Tool for

Dublin City Council

Problem:No one true source of information on applications with

underlying SQL server database

Solution:Centralised information with automatic notification,

querying and monitoring of SQL Server applications

Understanding the Stakeholders

Brainstorming

We brainstormed as many ideas as possible of what a solution might look like and came up with three

alternatives :- one in which all data collection was automated (High Automation); one in which all data collection was manual (Low Automation) and a combination approach

(Medium Automation)

Users evaluated Prototypes

Users interacted with paper and balsamiq prototypes (just like a real system) and gave us feedback

Landing Zone & Innovation Targets

Project Plan &Work Breakdown Structure

Work Breakdown Structure:

This is where we identified all the tasks and durations.

Project Planning:

We assigned tasks to team members and worked out a plan that would ensure all deliverables were met for our sponsor within the given timeframe

User Testing Test Plan

SQLDoT Version 1

Training & Launch

The SQL Applications Documentation Tool for

Dublin City Council

Where’s your application?Where’s your data?

Who you gonna call?

SQLDoT Application

System Architecture Diagram

Business Model Canvas

User

View key SQL Application Information at a glance – quickly find out business information (lead business user; first line support; system criticality, data classification etc) and infrastructural information about an application (what components go to make up the SQL application and where they are located)

• Provide a link between SQL application information and related documents such as service description document, contracts page and projects page on Sharepoint

• Real-time monitoring and reporting of SQL databases – database growth over time; locks, long-running queries etc – quickly establish if problems exist and how to resolve them.

• View real-time status of application and database servers, quickly establish if any problems exist and how to resolve

• Schedule maintenance more efficiently by establishing what applications will be affected if a server needs to be brought down

• Improved capacity planning via database growth analysis

Database Tables

Application Tables

Component Tables

SQLDoT system – a central repository of information on SQL applications

SQLDoT, The Sequel

• Create Test Environment for SQLDoT

• Security Baseline analysis for SQL Servers

• Extend SQLDoT to include Oracle Applications

• Extend SQLDoT to include services such as MS Exchange

• Link to Infra Call Management System

• Link to Change Management system so that change is automatically reflected in SQLDoT

• Automatic generation of Service Description Document from SQLDoT

• Make SQLDot available to other Local Authorities