iTalenta provides an overall methodology and approach for the way in which iTalenta helps its customers through all of the stages of owning a Laboratory Information Management System. This approach is called GOLD - Goal Oriented LIMS Delivery.
iTalenta advises all of its customers to use the GOLD methodology. Support for GOLD is integrated within the iTalenta LIMS product, the on-line support systems provided to customers, and in the extensive range of templates, guidelines, and business models.
GOLD takes the best ideas from the IT industry and applies them to LIMS. It embraces effective project management techniques that fully utilize an evolutionary, participatory approach while maintaining tight time scales and regulatory compliance.
The classical waterfall model of writing detailed requirements and functional specifications before performing any configuration is inappropriate for package based information systems where the users need to interact with the system to understand what functions and features are available. iTalenta's goal oriented, iterative approach is a far more efficient way of delivering business systems. The iTalenta approach is based on high productivity tools, clear objectives, and small, very skilled teams. GOLD has been developed and refined using the experience of many hundreds of successful LIMS projects.
The GOLD methodology consists of four key stages, which are summarized below:
As described above, iTalenta's interaction with a customer starts with a teacher / student relationship, evolves into a master / apprentice relationship, and eventually stabilizes into a supporting relationship. Each implementation project starts with training. iTalenta offers a weeklong training program that is attended by all team members who will participate in the configuration work. The implementation then continues under the technical leadership of one of our certified implementation consultants. During this phase the team members receive on-the-job, hands-on training. Over time, usually in the second month, the team members start to feel comfortable with the tools and as appropriate, can be ready to take on some of the configuration tasks. Our consultant mentors the team while continuing to tackle some of the more complex parts of the implementation. This relationship continues until the customer is ready to move the LIMS into production. By that time, the customer often can become self-supporting and may need relatively little on-site consulting. iTalenta continues to support the customer with online information, an email discussion forum, and assistance from our technical support staff via the telephone or if the customer prefers via email.