PCD Awards 2005
SUBMISSION FORM

Category:  Extraordinary PCD Tools 

Deployment State:  In-Production

Extraordinary PCD Tools are technologies (tools, products, protocol) that were not previously available commercially or otherwise.  Innovative PCD Tools and Techniques are things that facilitate embedding support into other software, act as agents to deliver decision support at the time of need, integrate disparate end-user software, help anticipate and resolve performance challenges, use general inference techniques to eliminate complexity, reduce the need for conventional IT support, replace more conventional means of support, and the like.  These can be new components of existing PCD Tools and Techniques if they are sufficiently unique.

Excellent examples of Extraordinary Performance Centered Design Tools are those that facilitate creating and integrating performance support environments, such as alternate interfaces, merging disparate systems (via interface integration, middleware, agents, and the like); capturing and disseminating business processes and best practices; improving business processes; embedding “wizards” and other productivity enhancers into existing systems; providing decision support and workflow support; providing resources to quickly troubleshoot problems, answer customer questions, and the like.  Any tool that clearly stands head-and-shoulders above the rest in its category - or that defines a unique category -  for enhancing the creation of EPSS / Performance-Centered Solutions is a candidate for an Extraordinary PCD Tool.  Hardware and hardware devices that fit this description are also candidates.

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Entry Title	Instancy Knowledge Workflow Platform™
Submitted by:	Instancy, Inc
Contact Name:	Harvey Singh
Phone:	919-653-4981
E-mail:	hsingh@instancy.com
Address:	401 Harrison Oaks Blvd, Suite 320 Cary, NC 27513
Logo:
Classification:	Please classify your entry: Comprehensive performance-centered web-based portal development tool Comprehensive performance-centered content/learning/knowledge management system development tool Specialty performance support tool that address one or more elements of the PCD lifecyle: Process/workflow modeling and/or simulation User experience, interface development/generation, usability Content, information, knowledge engineering Real-time assembly of performance objects Other specialty tools that address PCD lifecycle element(s) (describe) Other (describe):
Product / Component Name & Brief Description:	Instancy Knowledge-Workflow Platform™ is a workflow based Mobile Learning and Performance Support system that enables organizations to create and manage and deliver (learning, knowledge, performance support content) in the right information to the right person at the right time on the right device resulting in consistent, accurate, and timely response to business/customer needs.
Vendor:	Same as above
Operating Environment:	Instancy Knowledge Workflow Platform operates™ in a Web and Mobile environment. The Web Servers operates on Windows Server environment and client-side functionality may be accessed from a desktop Web browser or from a mobile device – TabletPC with Windows XP or PocketPC with Windows Mobile operating system.
Product/Component Detailed Description:	Instancy Knowledge-Workflow Platform has two major sub-systems: iCPD and iCMS. iCDP – Instancy Content Delivery Portal provides a seamless Web and Mobile learning, knowledge support, and performance support environment. iCDP may be accessed via desktop Web browser or may be accessed from a more portable Mobile environment – TabletPC with pen and digital ink interface or PocketPC. iCDP supports both wirelessly connected or disconnected use. User tracking data and information may be stored locally on the mobile device and may be uploaded or synchronized with the server when the connection is restored. iCDP can deliver workflow and user profile based data including learning (learning objects and assessments), performance support (procedures, data-collection tools, voice recordings) and knowledge-support (data lookup and reference information). Instancy’s flexible and powerful user management system allows users to be organized based on groups, hierarchies, or market segments. User profile and user tracking is used to personalize the information. iCMS – Instancy Content Management System provides a Web based content authoring platform that allows learning and performance specialists to create, aggregate, organize content resources. Task-based content (decision flows) and job aids may be designed rapidly along with training and reference contnet. iCMS is a collaborative content workflow environment that supports multiple authors and content contributors to create, review, and publish multiple content resources. Content Authoring Template Framework allows internal subject matter experts (learning and performance specialists) to use web browser based templates, authoring tools and data forms, to upload or bring together different elements of the content such as animation, video, or text and define user interactions and content navigation. Business Process Management/Workflow templates allow the organization to graphically model the content creation processes and to orchestrate the tasks of multiple contributors and reviewers (inside and outside ) across the content supply chain resulting in the submission of source content into the content management system. Content repository stores all source as ‘content objects’ – combination of learning and performance objects (where content is broken down into smaller and reusable components and managed in an XML format) and allows the organization to centrally manage, index, search, and re-purpose their content for different needs and delivery options such as print, CD-ROM, Web, and Mobile devices. Instancy content management system manages diverse content types including documents, interactive learning, rich media assets (audio, video, and animations), schematics, procedures and data forms, surveys and more. The content management system automates the publishing process (compiling and packaging the content for different delivery modes) and automatically adds content navigation, tracking and reporting logic. Unique aspects of Instancy include: Single. source content – separation of content from its presentation Content. reuse between learning and performance support Seamless. Web and Mobile delivery capability Leverages. and extends standards like SCORM
Product use:	While Instancy has been deployed for variety of workforce development, training, and knowledge/performance management application (corporate, education, and government segments), one of the key user type is mobile knowledge worker such as a Field Sales Rep or Field Customer Service Agent. With Instancy, Field Sales Rep or Field Customer Service Agents can get instant access to context-specific information, knowledge and performance support, and business intelligence so they can perform consistently and confidently at an expert level. Field Sales and Customer Service personnel have unique requirements: Higher. customer expectations for faster response time and quality customer service Complexity. of products and services requiring knowledge and performance support (information overload) Changing. business processes and products requiring territory and product re-alignment or update in procedures and supporting content Need. to bring/extract value out of each customer visit in the field (knowledge capture) for decision making Instancy provides sales and field service workflow based system that delivers product related interactive product presentations, competency-based learning content, product installation procedures, and customer-related information/data capture. This digital content is organized in an easy to access and use format. End-users can access (self-registration and self-service options are also available) the system using a Web browser and set-up their profiles and preferences. Sales and customer service procedures and workflows can easily be modified and learning and performance support content may be linked to business workflows. Furthermore, Instancy provides a close-loop communication between field personnel and corporate office where information can flow back and forth from the field to the corporate office in real-time. Web-based performance dashboards at knowledge-worker/field personnel and corporate/management levels provide performance monitoring and graphical reports. Availability Instancy Knowledge-Workflow Platform™ has been available for about 12 months and has been used by companies like Symbol Technologies for their mobile Sales and Field Service teams.
Deliverables provided and samples:	Instancy Knowledge-Workflow Developers or Authors use Web-based (zero client-side installation needed) authoring templates to produce multiple content types for Web and Mobile delivery: Learning. and assessment content Performance. support tools (step-by-step procedures including data-capture templates) Messages. and alerts Instancy Platform deliverables include: Real-time. access to information, rich-media, and business intelligence Updated. access to procedures and reference content (such as schematics) Two-way. information flow between the field and corporate office Multi-device. delivery of content with connected and disconnected use Visual. performance dashboards at multiple user levels
What difference does this tool make?	Instancy take learning and performance support to a new level: Instancy enables information, knowledge, performance, and business intelligence to be delivered in a mobile and wireless environment. Information is organized to be delivered in task-based sequence and easily accessible in the field (mobile environment) directly where work is being performed; online performance support may be accessed (where desktop computers may be difficult to deploy) in a personal and convenient form factor (with pen and voice based interfaces) Instancy operates in multi-user or collaborative human workflow environment as it aims to replace or enhance client-side EPSS models Instancy delivers an integrated performance system including content creation, delivery, and performance monitoring/management The business benefits of Instancy Knowledge-Workflow Platform™ include: Reduced. requirement and time for formal training through on-the-job performance support model Reduced. errors Continuous. improvement through field data and information capture Increase. customer satisfaction through real-time knowledge and performance support and rapid response
What else makes this tool extraordinary?	Instancy is a next generation system for learning and performance support that is architected for: Flexibility. and Extensibility Instancy is component and web services based architecture can be easily configured using Visual user interfaces and may be easily integrated with enterprise applications. Built on industry standards such as SCORM, Instancy extends the notion of course-ware to performance-ware and performance objects. Blending. Learning, Knowledge, and Performance Instancy provides a unique architecture to blend learning, knowledge management, and performance support in a common framework. In contrast, first generation systems were broken in many different silos making seamless integration and synergy difficult at best.