My project this semester is to structure the data for an Indiana research institute. Part of the responsibilities of the Institute include managing finances for grant-funded research projects and studies. A major challenge for the institute is to track budgets, accounts and create meaningful reports within piecemeal time frames; as grants can span through parts of a fiscal year.
This project involves creating a database for storing and managing this information in a way that is more efficient and precise than the current spreadsheet system in use. Due to the limitations of the current system, account information can be redundant and allows for human error beyond data entry. The new database would allow for synchronous access between accountants, history auditing of past financial information and the ability to prorate data according to fiscal and grant time frames.
My part of this project was to gather the requirements of the system and start a model which will help guide a future Living Lab participant through implementation.
Project Student: Timothy Kravchuk
