Secure Global Web Application for U.S. Department of State

Webworld Builds Secure Global Web Application for U.S. Department of State

 

Background: 

In response to a directive from the Office of Management and Budget that the Department of State collect quantifiable information on public diplomacy efforts outside the United States, Karen P. Hughes, then Department of State’s Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, initiated a project to create the Mission Activity Tracker (MAT). The idea was to develop a custom web application that would enable State Department officials to easily track the cost and effectiveness of U.S. diplomatic events around the world. This would be a secure web application that would be used by U.S. diplomatic posts around the world. 

 

 

The Challenge:

Webworld Technologies, a trusted Department of State technology partner, was given this task with a very tight deadline. Webworld developers had to produce a working prototype within three months using the requirements collected by the Department of State. The deadline and the scope of the requirements made the development project a very challenging task.

The primary goals for the MAT system were: 

  • Meet OMB requirements.

  • Provide complete, credible, current and standardized data on public diplomatic activities.

  • Institutionalize output performance measure data collection efforts across diplomatic posts.

  • Compile data in an easily reportable format.

  • Track, monitor and allow posts to demonstrate their performance for a range of diplomatic activities.

  • Provide timely access to information on diplomatic activities to senior department managers and decision makers.

  • Serve as a repository for summarized information across time that supports knowledge management and knowledge transfers as managers and decision-makers change.

  • Provide a snapshot of public diplomatic activities comparable over time.

  • Reduce reporting burdens placed on posts.

  • Improve the quality of data reports and consistency of activity information provided by posts.

  • Enhance the analysis of the effectiveness of public diplomacy programs.

  • Provide a data collection framework to be used in U.S. Embassies and Missions worldwide.

  • Provide a standardized methodology to assess public diplomacy performance.

 

The Solution: 

Webworld developers constructed the new web application using Web 2.0 technologies, as they offered dramatic ease-of-use advantages over earlier web development technologies.  

Working on an extended schedule in order to meet the tight deadline, the development team used the requirements compiled by the Department to build an innovative and easy-to-use application that enables Department personnel from around the world to log diplomatic events, their outcomes and their associated costs.

Throughout the development process Webworld solicited feedback from Department of State stakeholders and end-users, ensuring that the final product met client expectations. 

Webworld met the challenging deadline and delivered the application on time. MAT was subsequently praised during an April 2007 Congressional hearing by Secretary Hughes as an effective tool in enabling the Department of State to standardly track the effectiveness of U.S. diplomatic events throughout the world.

Webworld currently provides maintenance and modernization support for MAT.