Traveling Through Time: The Forum Guide to Longitudinal Data Systems - An LDS is not just an information technology (IT) project

Traveling Through Time: The Forum Guide to Longitudinal Data Systems
Book 1 of 4: What is an LDS?

NFES 2010-805
July 2010

Acknowledgments
Foreword
List of Tables
List of Figures
Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 2. LDS Basics
Chapter 3. What Does an LDS Look Like? From Real to Ideal
Chapter 4. Dispelling the Misconceptions: What an LDS is, and What it is Not
- A Data Warehouse is not Necessarily an LDS
- An LDS is not Just an Information Technology (IT) Project
- An Ideal LDS May Not Be Available Out-of-the-Box
- An LDS is not a Punitive Tool
- Simply Having an LDS Will Do Nothing to Benefit Students
Chapter 5. LDS Benefits: Why Should We Build These Systems?
Appendix A—Overview of the LDS Guide Series
Appendix B— References
Appendix C—Additional References
Appendix D—Handout: Anatomy of an LDS
Appendix E—LDS in Legislation
Appendix F—Forum and Other NCES Resources
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An LDS is not just an information technology (IT) project

An LDS is not just an IT project.

An LDS is a business solution, a way to meet information needs. IT staff can build an LDS, but the system they develop may not meet user needs. Education experts and other data users must work closely with IT throughout the design and development process to ensure the system will effectively serve their requirements. Developers must consider how users do their jobs and what functionalities will make this work easier and more efficient. They should also think about how end users will access and use the data and how the new system can help them maximize the information's utility.

"We'll just buy an LDS and be done with it."