User:Connich/sandbox

a.k.a.® software is developed and marketed by The Synercon Group.

a.k.a. 3 software is designed to manage an enterprise information governance framework. This framework may comprise controlled terminology (metadata) used for describing information and defined rules for managing information including recordkeeping requirements, disposition and retention policies, vital records and privacy policies.

a.k.a. delivers an open design environment enabling the creation of elements and entities which can be extensively customised according to need. Once the basic building blocks are created, a.k.a. can build a multiplicity of structures used in information systems. These include taxonomies, file plans, thesauri, ontologies, records retention schedules, data maps, metadata models, legislation libraries, access and security models.

a.k.a. is designed to be used by all information management professionals within an enterprise.

Functionality
a.k.a. 3 comprises 4 major modules:
 * A Design Module where the software administrators create and customize the database to create entities, metadata elements, relationships and schema.
 * A Library module where ‘content’ is created, edited and managed. The Library acts as a single source repository of controlled lists and metadata sets. Functionality includes editing, searching, an inbuilt report writer and import/export tools.
 * An Architect module where structures are built such as taxonomies, thesauri, ontologies, retention schedules, data maps etc. The Architect enables linking and mapping between different entities and schema using relationships. Functionality inlcudes editing, searching, an inbuilt report writer and import/export tools.
 * An Exchange module which facilitates data exchange between a.k.a. and a range of information systems using CSV and XML formats or direct data exchange into MS Exchange, and MS SharePoint. Structures from a.k.a. 3 can also be published in HTML format to the web. Exported files from a.k.a. 3 have been sucessfully imported into eCM systems including Oracle URM, HP TRIM Context, FileNet, Open Text and Documentum.

A multilingual version of a.k.a. 3 is also available.

Standards compliance
a.k.a. can be designed to build structures (classification schemes, business classification schemes for records management, file plans, taxonomies, subject heading schemes, ontologies, terminologies/term banks, name authority lists, synonym rings, retention schedules) that comply with a range of standards including:


 * ISO 15489 Standard for Records Management, DIRKS Methodology.
 * ISO 23081 Metadata for records
 * ISO 25964 Thesauri and interoperability with other vocabularies
 * HB 5031 2011 Records classification

Platform
a.k.a. Version 3 is written in .NET and uses an MS SQL Server database.

History
a.k.a. Version 1 was first released in 2002 as a thesaurus tool for records managers. a.k.a. Version 2 was released in 2005 with functionality to develop retention schedules in line with the ISO 15489 DIRKS Methodology. a.k.a. version 3 is a completely redesigned software product and was released in August 2011.

a.k.a. has been implemented extensively in Australia, Canada, Malaysia, United Kingdom, United States and New Zealand. It was purchased as a whole of government tool by the State of Queensland. a.k.a. was used by National Archives of Australia to develop the and by the ACT territory Records Office to develop their whole of government thesaurus and disposal schedules.

a.k.a. is also employed as a teaching tool in university records management programs around the world.