AESOP (Architectural Environments for Smart Organisation Portals)

Project Leader: Mike Martin
Staff: Ian McLoughlin, Ros Strens, Sarah Skerratt, Rob Wilson.
Sponsors: EU Framework 5
Partners: T-Systems MMS Dresden, Ardemi of Lyon, Unioncamere of Bologna, Fraunhofer IAO of Stuttgart, and the Regional Chambers of Commerce of Rhone Alp, Stuttgart and Emilia Romagna

AESOP brings together 7 partners and extensive background in projects which have looked at the problem of servicing the needs of clients where information requirements are complex, dynamic and drawn from many different sources. As part of IST 2001 Key Action SMART Organisations, AESOP aims to deliver three main results:

Action research - Co-ordinated by the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, ARDEMI of Lyon, Fraunhofer IAO of Stuttgart and Unioncamere of Bologna will undertake and publish in depth ethnographical studies into impact and change management issues, with a coherent architectural approach explaining relationship management.
Technical - T-Systems MMS Dresden, (the Deutsche Telekom Java Development Centre), will develop flexible Portal Management Systems with components configured for the efficient delivery of on-line Chamber of Commerce services,
Pilots - three leading Chambers of Commerce will act as SMART organisations for AESOP pilots: Rhone Alpes Region - technology transfer and innovation services, Stuttgart - secure access to services by SMEs using digital signature and Emilia Romagna - customized information services.

All partners will actively disseminate information to a wide audience within their respective spheres and Eurochambres which will organise series of workshops for member Chambers of Commerce. There will be both commercial and user exploitation of the results of the project.AESOP will make a positive contribution to the SMART Organisations Key Action by producing results which will bring real benefits to Chambers of Commerce and their members. The combination of background experience, technical innovation and change management and architectural studies will provide a deeper and practical understanding of the problems of the effective deployment of on-line services.