About Our Methodology

Webster's dictionary defines methodology as "the analysis of the principles or procedures of inquiry in a particular field." The difference between the activities encompassed by this rather succinct definition and those included in the approaches used by most technology service groups is, in fact, what sets OEI apart from the rest: rather than develop a business channel based on a handful of loosely related products, OEI relies on the unique technological benefits found in the nature, or structural essence, and behavior, or dynamic essence, of objects, to provide a methodology centered upon an end-to-end system framework designed to yield maximum reliability, exceptional flexibility for customization, and the highest consistency at the user interface.

OEI's monastic view of service provision yields a three-pronged result, each tine in this trident translating into unequaled benefits to the client:

An orthodox adherence to the principles that govern the world of objects. OEI bases its approach to service on a system framework that exploits the functional characteristics of objects and object classes; characteristics that make for a shared, consistent, predictable behavior among objects in a class -- this is known as inheritance in object-oriented programming terms; for data integrity across a system -- thanks to the capability that objects have for data encapsulation; and for highly customizable interfaces -- provided by the highly definable methods with which specific objects can be programmed. The result is a service suite with no compromises, no excuses, no falling back on obsolete technologies varnished with a thin coat of pseudo-object-oriented interfaces. Only the best that objects can offer is used here. A set of principles that drive all we do, from initial analysis to finished, running product. Which provides the client with exactly that: a running product; one that is reliable, consistent, cost effective. In other words, all the things that an object-oriented environment should be.

A well-articulated, perfectly integrated staff of experts that provide a suite of teams, each dedicated to provide optimum service and deliverables in its own area:

-- Object Architects gather and analyze customer requirements, determine applicable processes and workflow, define appropriate interfaces, formulate coding guidelines, and provide team and project leadership. Architects are responsible for ensuring that the solution we provide does not only answer a current client problem, but enables that client to deal effectively with a multitude of situations down the road.

-- Data and object modelers map business objects -- identified by our architects -- to relational tables in existing customer databases, to ensure that the product delivered suits the customer's business process exactly. OEI modelers offer expertise in BBP application programming, WebObjects, SQL and Unix.

-- Programmers develop the frameworks on which the various functional layers in the customer's system will be based, as well as the code for those layers. OEI programmers, with years of experience in a variety of sites throughout the BBP development community, are experts in Java, data modeling, HTML, and the creation and manipulation of critical elements in The Bay Bridge Project Foundation.

-- Configuration management experts provide the standards and procedures applicable to the development and deployment environments, to ensure integrity in the code at all stages of the product's life cycle. From revision control, to network stability, to client configuration management, OEI CMs keep process flows running smoothly, providing the templates necessary for process predictability.

-- Integration testers see to it that each OEI product meets all identified customer requirements before it is released to the customer's environment. These testers use sophisticated data bases, as well as tracking and reporting tools, to ensure that individuals and teams with responsibility for defect removal are properly informed when errors occur, and can eliminate them quickly and effectively. In addition to being expert communicators, OEI testers have a thorough understanding of objects,object-based development, application flow, and human factors.

-- User Information Developers develop the online and printed documentation that supports each OEI product to provide effective procedural and reference information to all users.

These teams are supported, through the duration of a project by ancillary teams that provide graphics design know-how, implementation expertise, and other project elements that make each application unique. OEI has access to a growing list of third-party partners that include artists, writers, and a variety experts to assist in the creation of truly fine finished products.

Seamless cohesion in all deliverables.

OEI's technical resources are organized and trained to satisfy client requirements, regardless of scope or purpose . Providers often rely on a service palette consisting of disjointed products and functions, gathered from diverse resources to provide stop-gap, for-the-time-being deliverables that usually result in system-level problems that the client must "live with" for the life of the service. OEI's end-to-end methodology, on the other hand, ensures that whatever modules in the service suite are requested, the delivered product will be trouble-free, and -- as scalibility is part of everything OEI delivers -- allow for future growth in whatever direction the client chooses to go.