MICA platform for SharePoint

MICA is an exceptional tool for the Microsoft SharePoint environment because of the possibility it offers to quickly build in it cross functional applications for the entire business. The core modules enable rapid development of applications with forms and workflows, and the functional modules offer support for various management activities such as BPM, quality, projects, dashboards, etc.

MICA was designed to integrate four functional areas that correspond to each of the letters of its name:

	*Modeling* - Creating a representation of the business to understand it more fully, as well as improve it and manage it better : Structures : organisation, collaborative workspaces, ISO references, etc. Processes : activities, information, actors, tools, control points, etc. Supervision : targets, indicators, dashboards, etc. Workflows : activities, forms, states, transitions, etc.
	*Integrating* - Maintaining the coherence of information : Integrated data management (SharePoint lists, SQL/Server tables). Interfaces: access connectors to external data (ERP, CRM, etc.). Internal and external datawarehouses for BI access..
	*Collaborating* - Sharing workspaces and knowledge domains : Shared development and capitalisation of knowledge. Coordination and accountability of the parties involved in the updating and use of content. Responsiveness to events and monitoring findings (workflows). Supervision of improvement programmes and change projects.
	*Analysing* - Making use of the information and using management techniques and tools : Identification of discrepancies and anomalies. Graphics, statistical analyses of processes. Multidimensional analysis and drill down (cubes), cause and risk analysis, FMEA. Dashboards, guidance, launch of improvement programmes and projects.

A form and workflow tool for SharePoint

At the heart of MICA is a software tool based on a totally new approach : it together handles, in a way which is very well integrated with the features offered by SharePoint, both the ‘form’ part and the ‘workflow’ part of a document oriented application :

The modelling of an application is performed in one go along the three dimensions of data definition (content types), input forms and workflow process.
When using the form the user can work directly both with the fields to enter information (when authorized) and with the action buttons to terminate his / her task along the workflow (whereas usual workflow tools separate the handling of these two operations in different screens).

As a result, MICA offers :

an excellent user friendliness (minimum number of clicks, easy to handle forms),
an ability to deal with applications which can be simple or complex, thanks to a straightforward and homogeneous modelling formalism,
a rapid development environment (RAD - Rapid Application Development) that business analysts (and not necessarily IT experts) can use.

All applications developed with MICA are based on this form and workflow tool, both the standard ones and the ones made on request.

Needs covered

In most cases the functionalities implemented through MICA are part of an effort to describe and make processes more reliable (see BPM and workflows with SharePoint) or to support management systems as required by ISO standards (see QMS / HSEQ with SharePoint).

In addition, MICA can be very useful in more specific contexts:

When migrating from Lotus Notes to SharePoint, MICA gives the possibility to quickly and easily re-develop the applications with, as a result, very similar functionalities.
When it is a difficult thing to involve occasional end users in the use of ERP transactions (eg with SAP, collection / validation of customer data, purchase authorization, etc.), MICA allows you to easily develop simplified forms and implement a validation workflow in order to provide access to ERP with a friendly interface through SharePoint.

Objectives

When speaking with business managers about the areas of management that require improvement, three of these areas crop up time and again: management of knowledge, more reliable processes via proper document flows, and management of performance and progress programmes.

MICA has been designed to meet these three objectives :

Structure knowledge about the business and make it more easily accessible and shared. The modelling and description of the business practices will contribute to that through the possibility offered to establish classifications and set hypertext links in the drawings and tables.
Computerise information flows based on the many forms entered and enhanced by all of the key players in the business – and hence help to speed up and make the associated processes run more reliably, as well as to capitalise on the corresponding knowledge.
Implement performance steering tools based on dashboards featuring process performance indicators and interim data from progress programmes and projects.

Benefits of MICA

Better shared understanding of the business thanks to a better formalization of knowhow and practices (documentation).
Easy, flexible design of the applications, combining content and workflows and involving the participation of the key players, thus enabling rapid development.
Better collaboration essential for the development of new knowledge and skills, and better understanding of changes to the environment (monitoring programmes shared and analysed).
Enhanced visibility of required actions and of results.
Greater reliability of processes thanks to workflows and version control which monitor the circulation and update of key information.
Savings when making SharePoint the overall platform for document oriented applications.

Technical design: the components

MICA is based on different components that we have created, each for a specific technical and methodological purpose. They make rapid development possible, and allow us to prepare prototypes during pilot experiment workshops (see Suitability: a must ).

The components in question are the following :

Management of rights
Tree structures
Form components
Content modelling
Form modelling
Workflow modelling
Workflow engine (based on WF)
Workflow buttons
Management of tasks and audit trail
Version management
Links management (Office documents)
Connectors

Languages

MICA modules are currently available with an interface in the following languages :

English
French
Italian
Dutch