Close-Out Phase

This page is for holding consolidated plans for the close-out phase of the VOTECH project, from Jan to end May 2009. The top-level goals for this close-out phase are :

• produce final formal deliverable : Euro-VO reference architecture
• consolidate products from VOTECH and publicise them
• work together as partners to make the transition to VOTC

Short history of project planning cycle revisions

The original Description of Work had a 2-month startup phase; a 4-month "Cycle-1"; then Cycles 2-7 at 6 months each; then a 3-month Cycle-8; then a 3 month close-out phase taking us to the end of December 2008. The Project Plan of March 2005 revised this so that Cycle-1 started in April 2005, with seven 6-month Cycles, followed by a 3-month Cycle-8. We therefore lost the formal concept of a "close-out" phase. Also, for reasons that were never clear to me, the Cycles got arbitrarily re-named "Stages" and this has stuck. The Revised Project Plan of Dec 2006 kept the dates of "Stages" the same, but formally slipped some of the target deliverable dates.

We have now successfuly requested a no-cost extension of six months. Stage-8 stays as it is, but the extra period Jan 2009 - May 2009 can be used for "tidying up" and transitional work. Only one formal deliverable remains for this period : the Euro-VO reference architecture.

Final Plan for Deliverables.

Note that the annual reports are standard contractual deliverables, in addition to the internally imposed project deliverables. The former are a legal requirement; the latter are what our success is judged on. The status of all deliverables is summarised at the ProjectContract page.

Formal VOTECH deliverables targeted before start of close-out

DS3-04 Third Infrastructure prototype release to DS2

DS4-04 Third User Tools prototype release to DS2

DS5-04 Third Resource Discovery prototype release to DS2

DS6-04 Third Data Exploration prototype release to DS2

DS2-04d Fourth Baseline sofware release

All these were officially scheduled for 2008 Sept, but in fact it makes sense to include whatever the DS groups wish up to end of December 2008. As before, we will achieve this in a very simple manner, by updating the links on the SoftwareDownload page. For the close out phase, we can do something a little more polished, but still keep it simple.

*Formal VOTECH deliverables targeted during close-out *

DS2-05 Euro-VO Reference Architecture : I proposed that we formally deliver the final version in May 2009, but make sure that we have an almost complete draft by April.

4th Annual Report : due by Feb 15th 2009 Final Report : given the extension, I am assuming this will be due something like July 15th 2009.

Additional partnership deliverables

By "the partnership" I mean the formal VOTECH partners, plus our ESAC colleagues; and possibly other parties ? As part of the transition to creating an enduring VOTC, and following the discussion in October, I suggest we deliver the following :

VOTC charter

VOTC Roadmap

Consolidated web site

By "consolidated web site" I am thinking of transferring some of the information on the wiki - collected reports, statement of history, links to prototype software - onto the static official web site, as a permanent record of project achievements. (Permanent maybe means a useful shelf life of a few years ...) This should be simple but neat and attractive.

In addition, as ome of our reports were labelled "preliminary", the DS groups may want to consider :

Final Infrastructure Report

Final Data Exploration Report

This is not obligatory, as we can consider ourselves to have completed our formal deliverables. Its really whatever these groups wish.

Schedule for close-out phase

Here is a possible schedule, for comment

Dec 01 2008 : start admin process for Ann. Rep. 4

Dec 04 2008 : agree close out plan

Dec 04 2008 : first drafts charter, roadmap

Dec 04 2008 : outline of Ref. Arch

Dec 15 2008 : outline of Ann. Rep. 4; request for snippets

Dec 18 2008 : design of final web pages

Jan 15 2009 : draft of Ann. Rep. 4

Jan 15 2009 : all finance/resource info in for Ann. Rep. 4

Feb 01 2009 : almost final versions of charter, roadmap

Feb 15 2009 : VOTECH Board final telecon; review progress; agree VOTC Board membership

Feb 15 2009 : submit Ann. Rep. 4

Mar 01 2009 : beta of web pages

Mar 15 2009 : Tech Forum; first meeting of VOTC Board; agree charter and roadmap

Apr 01 2009 : Full draft of Ref. Arch.

May 15 2009 : Deliver Ref. Arch.

-- AndyLawrence - 25 Nov 2008