SANBI’s IBIS: SIBIS

I B I S:

• Integrated

• Biodiversity

• Information

• System

Reuben Roberts: Sept. 2005roberts@sanbi.org

SANBI KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: Critical Success Factors (Strategic Plan 2005 – 2009)

Knowledge managementInformation and knowledge collection and dissemination is

at the core of the Institute’s functioning.

DEVELOPING TOOLS THAT ALLOW FOR QUICK AND SIMPLE ACCESS TO THE RESOURCE BASE.

ORGANISE, REFINE, SYNTHESISE AND MANAGE INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE TO SUPPORT THE GOALS OF THE ORGANISATION

These point to the need proactively to:

CURRENT SITUATION

• Disjointed

• Duplicated

• Dissemination difficult

• But very data rich!

DATA

INFORMATION

KNOWLEDGE

WISDOM

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT PYRAMID

SIBIS PHASE I

• Combined

• Clean

• Centralised

Release date:Oct 2005

SIBIS PHASE II+

• Broad

• Bespoke

• Bilateral

Release date:end 2005

SIBIS FEATURES

METADATA + AUDITING

VISUAL TOOLS CUSTOMISABLE

SECURE

WHY BUILD SIBIS?

Continuity and integration

SANBI-specific requirements

Sensitive data

Data editing

WHO WILL BE USING SIBIS?

• SANBI groups“Let me record a batch of herbarium specimens”

• External groups“Let me review and analyse my specialist data”

• General public“What occurs in my area, and how do I grow it?”

SIBIS USER: JOAN PUBLIC

Specify species

attributes

What shrubby aloes with

orange flowers are found in the Eastern

Cape?

SIBIS USER: JOAN PUBLIC

Specify sites

What shrubby aloes with

orange flowers are found in the Eastern

Cape?

SIBIS USER: JOAN PUBLIC

View result list

What shrubby aloes with

orange flowers are found in the Eastern

Cape?

SIBIS USER: JOAN PUBLIC

View species details

What shrubby aloes with

orange flowers are found in the Eastern

Cape?

SIBIS USER: RESEARCHER

View image

Where have specimens for this species

been recorded?

SIBIS USER: RESEARCHER

View map

Where have specimens for this species

been recorded?

SIBIS USER: RESEARCHER

Zoom in

Select entry

Where have specimens for this species

been recorded?

Challenge ResponsesOrganisational structure and culture: ‘University’ model of individuals and small groups, IP

• Inclusive approach

• Workshops to encourage debate

• Review of similar organisations

Diverse user population: catering to the needs of Digitisation, Research and Publication

• Open interface for other tools

• Customisable queries and reporting

• Training and standards

Prioritisation of goals within a framework of limited resources

• Phased approach: cost-benefit

• Review of workflows

• Co-ordination with parallel projects

‘Moving target’ of enlarged SANBI mandate and associated organisational change

• Focus on SANBI mandate

• Capacity, strengths and weaknesses

• Outreach with partner organisations

Data migration, integration and parallel running

• Formal, auditable processes

• Scripted, ‘one-click’ data migration

• Early testing by key users

KEY CHALLENGES

CONCLUSION

Key SIBIS features:

• A centralised, accessible information warehouse

• A solid platform to share and manage biodiversity information

Key SIBIS benefits:

• To help to transform SANBI’s huge information resources into knowledge

• To provide a core service to biodiversity-concerned organisations across the South African spectrum