A Case Study in the Development of a Low-Cost, Best-in-Class Enterprise Information System Using Web 2.0

The introduction of web services, the .Net framework, and other application architecture technologies that are operating system and hardware platform independent has greatly reduced the level of effort and risk associated with the integration of multiple best-in-class software applications. It is now entirely possible for mid-size and very small utilities to build an enterprise information system for a non-prohibitive cost, and to begin to enjoy the operational transparency and cross-departmental reporting capabilities previously enjoyed by much large utilities that operate very large and complex Enterprise Resource Planning systems. This paper will present a case study of the Northstar Community Services District's approach to integrating three separate applications (accounting, asset management, and permitting) into a right-sized enterprise information system that is completely web-based (e.g. OS and hardware independent), uses no third party implementers or integrators, and has a maintenance agreement from the software vendors to support the integration into perpetuity.