WebBASIS

About WebBASIS

WebBASIS is an internal, web-based information system designed for large organizations to manage and access significant volumes of data. The system serves as an interface to a core backend, likely a mainframe, referred to as BASIS. It was custom-developed to provide employees with access to institutional information through a simplified, web-based portal. The primary function of WebBASIS is to allow users to navigate, browse, and retrieve specific data through a hierarchical menu and search structure. Users start with high-level categories and progressively refine their selections to pinpoint the exact information required. For instance, it has been utilized by entities such as the County of Los Angeles and the University of Arkansas for administrative and financial functions.

The platform's services are categorized into main types: Browse-Select for navigating data, View Object for displaying specific records, and Update functionalities. This architecture is designed to make vast databases, containing potentially millions of pieces of information, more accessible to general employees without requiring them to understand the underlying complexity of the mainframe system. In practice, WebBASIS has been implemented to handle budget and billing information, providing access to financial reports and departmental data within organizations like LA County's Internal Services Department. It has also supported human resources functions, such as employee access to earnings statements and time tracking, as was the case at the University of Arkansas before the institution transitioned to a new system.

The system's interface is built on web standards, using hyper-text links for all navigation, which was a move to modernize access compared to traditional mainframe applications. The design philosophy emphasizes simplicity for the end-user by using pre-defined search paths and, in some cases, suppressing complex search criteria to keep the interface uncluttered. While it provides a web-based front-end, the core data processing and storage remain on a centralized mainframe platform. Its role is strictly as a business-to-employee tool, providing internal services and access to administrative and financial data within the confines of the organization it serves.