Journal:The modeling of laboratory information systems in higher education based on enterprise architecture planning (EAP) for optimizing monitoring and equipment maintenance

Full article title	The modeling of laboratory information systems in higher education based on enterprise architecture planning (EAP) for optimizing monitoring and equipment maintenance
Journal	Matrix: Jurnal Manajemen Teknologi Dan Informatika
Author(s)	Ifriza, Yahya N.; Veronika, Trisni W.; Suryarini, Trisni; Supriyadi, Antonius
Author affiliation(s)	Universitas Negeri Semarang
Year published	2023
Volume and issue	13(1)
Page(s)	1–11
DOI	10.31940/matrix.v13i1.1-11
ISSN	2580-5630
Distribution license	Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
Website	https://ojs2.pnb.ac.id/index.php/MATRIX/article/view/928
Download	https://ojs2.pnb.ac.id/index.php/MATRIX/article/view/928/516

Abstract

The laboratory is a place to conduct scientific research, experiments, measurements, or scientific training. Fakultas Matematika dan Ilmu Pengetahuan Alam, Universitas Negeri Semarang (FMIPA UNNES) has several laboratories distributed in each department to support student lectures. Through the implementation of practicum in the laboratory, students are expected to be able to find a concept, as well as foster scientific attitudes and critical thinking skills. Good laboratory management is expected to be able to utilize laboratory resources effectively and efficiently. Laboratory equipment must be ensured to function properly and be ready to be used for practicum. To support this, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the equipment and immediately repair the equipment if any damage is found. The current obstacle is monitoring tool repairs manually, so there are shortcomings such as poor documentation and equipment conditions that cannot be monitored online.

In this study, an information system for monitoring the maintenance of laboratory equipment in the departments in the FMIPA UNNES environment will be built. The research method begins with a literature study, initial data collection and observation, enterprise architecture planning (EAP)-based system design, system testing, system analysis, and system evaluation. This study uses the systems development life cycle (SDLC) approach to develop a monitoring information system for the maintenance of laboratory equipment. Testing is done using black box testing. From the results of development and testing, it can be concluded that the system can be used to simplify the process of managing laboratory equipment with a user acceptance testing (UAT) value of 88% suitable for use.

Keywords: enterprise architecture planning, information systems, laboratory, maintenance, optimization

Introduction

A laboratory is a place to conduct scientific research, experiments, measurements, or scientific training. Now lab management has followed technological developments, through to the application of information management systems. This is because technology can facilitate human work. One of them is the existence of digital applications. Applications have various capabilities to help human work, ranging from office applications to management, personal, entertainment, and other fields of human work. With this equipment, human tasks become easier, faster, more thorough, and more efficient. [1]

The implementation of lecture practicum in the laboratory is expected so that students can find a concept and then foster scientific attitudes and critical thinking skills. As such, laboratory management needs to be empowered effectively and efficiently. [2] Laboratory equipment must be ensured to function properly and be ready to be used for practicum. To support this, it is necessary to monitor the maintenance of the equipment systematically. The current obstacle is that monitoring of tool repair is done manually, so there are shortcomings such as poor documentation and being able to track the condition of equipment that cannot be monitored online. [3]

Currently, the Fakultas Matematika dan Ilmu Pengetahuan Alam, Universitas Negeri Semarang (FMIPA UNNES) laboratory does not yet have an information management system that can monitor the maintenance of laboratory equipment, starting from the condition of laboratory equipment to the repair process if there is damage [4]. Therefore, this study aims to create and implementan information system for monitoring the maintenance of laboratory equipment in the Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. Based on the description of the importance of laboratories to supporting lectures, the authors initiated the idea of researching the development of information systems that could monitor laboratory equipment maintenance. [5] This is in-line with the recommendation of the Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB), which implies the use of IT and modern tools in completing work. [6] This monitoring system aims to perform two purposes at once, namely preventing laboratory equipment from being lost or damaged and making it easier for laboratory technicians to carry out maintenance of laboratory equipment. [7]

Methodology

The stages in this research are data collection, analysis and design, stages of developing laboratory systems, and testing information systems. [8] The stage of data collection is done by using the method of interview and observation. [9] Interviews were conducted with lecturers, students, and department managers to obtain an overview of the needs and flow of laboratory management. Meanwhile, observations were made by observing what data would be used in the management, borrowing, and processing of laboratory equipment at FMIPA UNNES. [10]

The system design stage was carried out using the Waterfall method. The Waterfall method is a sequential software development method and consists of five interrelated and influencing stages. [11] With this method, there are several stages, namely the analysis, design, implementation/coding, testing/verification, and maintenance stages. The stages of the Waterfall method are shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Waterfall method.

At the system design stage, a design was produced for the database using entity-relationship diagrams (ERDs) and data flow diagrams (DFDs) to describe the system framework that would later be built, making it easier to make the system needed by the user. [12] The development stage implemented the results of the design carried out. The information systems development process used the CodeIgniter framework with the PHP and JavaScript programming languages. The next stage of this research involved testing the information system for bugs using the black-box testing method. This test was carried out to find out what deficiencies and errors are in the system. [13] The system was also tested by the end users by attempting to conduct experiments directly using the system. This user testing was carried out using black-box testing and a mean opinion score (MOS). In this case, black-box testing checks one by one the functions that have been created, and whether they have been made in accordance with user requirements. [14] The MOS test involves several respondents who are encouraged to use the system, then afterwards asking them to assess several activities with a range of one to four, where a value of one represents the worst value and a value of four represents the best value. Then the average rating of all respondents was calculated so that the MOS is obtained for the system. [15]

Enterprise architecture (EA) is a logical organization for the main business processes and information technology (IT) capabilities that reflect the need for integration and standardization of the company's operating model based on the Center for Information Systems Research. [19] EA is a set of principles, methods, and models used in the design and realization of a company's organizational structure, business processes, information systems, and infrastructure. [20] Enterprise architecture planning (EAP) is a process of defining the architecture for the use of information to support the business and planning to implement the architecture. [21–23]

EAP methodologies and models are an early part of a major body of EA knowledge that is still relevant and has influenced many frameworks, methodologies, and best practices in the public and private sectors. [24–25]. As such, the research methodology used herein was adapted to the architectural modeling steps of EAP, namely planning initiation, business modeling, current system architecture and technology, development of EA models in the form of data architecture, application architecture, technology architecture, and implementation. [26]

Results and discussion

The end result of this research has been an information system for the management of laboratory equipment. This system can be used to simplify the process of data collection, borrowing, and also processing the value of laboratory equipment results. The modeling steps of the EAP were taken into account when building a blueprint for the system architecture. Following the steps of the EAP concept, the system was used to model the laboratory system at FMIPA UNNES. However, this implementation required initial EAP-related planning, business modeling, system architecture and technology consideration, development of an EA model, and implementation and testing of the system.

Initial planning

The users of this system were to be department laboratory administrators, who are tasked with inputting lab asset data in their respective departments, including conditions and suggestions for repairing tools. Also involved with initial planning were faculty administrators, who are tasked with making decisions about whether to approve or postpone the proposed repairs, and financial administrators, who are tasked with approving budget allocations/ceilings.

The initial stage of the EAP is planning, which defines the organization as an object by describing the organization's vision and mission, which is linked to the vision associated with information system planning, so that the development of the architecture can be carried out in accordance with business objectives. In accordance with its existence as a university, the core business of a university consists of three main components, namely education and teaching, community service, and research, which make up the Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi (Tri Dharma) of higher education. In return for providing educational services to the community, graduates will return to the community with greater purpose. Determining the future vision and mission is necessary as a guideline for determining various IT strategies needed to support the vision and mission. The selection of the planning methodology approach determines the results of the blueprint that is ultimately made.

The primary vision and mission of FMIPA UNNES is to develop mathematics and natural science education in superior educational and non-educational programs with conservation insight and positive international reputation. Second, FMIPA UNNES seeks to develop and create science and technological innovation in the fields of mathematics and natural sciences, as well as civilizations with conservation insight and international reputation. Third, the department seeks to have that science and technological innovation disseminate more broadly into the fields of mathematics and natural sciences. Fourth, the departments seeks to build and develop institutional cooperation in supporting the institutional strengthening of the department's international reputation.

The goal of FMIPA UNNES is to develop students of mathematics and natural sciences that are superior at the international level, with superior conservation insight. The department can do this by providing modern professional education services in the field of mathematics and natural sciences to the community, and implementing cooperation in the field of mathematics and natural sciences to support the strengthening of institutions of international reputation.

Business modeling

The inherent organizational structure within universities provides the impetus for conducting business modeling. The organizational structure will show what parts will be handled by a university. As a higher education institution, it focuses on the educational Tri Dharma of education and teaching, research, and community service. This paper will only discuss the fields of education and research—especially as they relate to laboratories—and not include community service. Based on the value chain concept, the main functional areas for the education model in higher education can generally be grouped into main activities and supporting activities. The main activities consist of student admissions, academic operations, and graduation. Meanwhile, supporting activities consist of activities related to resource management (general), financial management, planning and information systems, and publishing and publication. Figure 2 shows the value chain for a university's education and research model.

Figure 2. The laboratory value chain as found in academic operations.

Notes

This presentation is faithful to the original, with only a few minor changes to presentation. Grammar was cleaned up for smoother reading. In some cases important information was missing from the references, and that information was added. The original article duplicates a paragraph in the methodology, with new references, which is confusing; for this version, the duplicated content was removed, along with the associated references, putting the article at three fewer references.