Distributed Application Development (or DAD)
an initiative of the Office of Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at UC San Diego

What is DAD?

DAD is an initiative of the Office of the EVC to examine campus-wide issues that affect the partners within Academic Affairs. Although the primary goal is to develop solutions for units within the perview of the Offices of the EVC, DAD projects should be available to all applicable units on campus. DAD teams are comprised of representatives from many units across Academic Affairs. 

DAD Development Model

Each application will be guided by a structure of groups that will ensure project oversight and accountability, while allowing for rapid and agile application development. These committees and groups will consist of:

  • Advisory Committee

    This is a small group of resource decision makers for a DAD project. The committee's purpose is to make recomendations on projects and applications to be developed. The committe is also responsible for properly resourcing the project as outlined in the MOU.

  • Stakeholder Advisory group(s)

    These groups are made up of key stakeholders that act as subject matter experts for the given needs of a project. They provide specifications through user stories, help to prioritize project requirements, and assist with testing the application. These members can also act as representatives of their department/division during the implementation phase of a project.

  • Developer group

    This group is made up of the application designers and developers for a given project and interacts with the Stakeholder Advisory Group to understand project needs and outcomes. They also work closely with stakeholders in the Advisory Committee throughout the project development cycle.

DAD Goals

The primary goal of DAD is to produce tools that enhance the productive efficiency and quality of work that gets done in Academic Affairs. These tools are definable, measurable, collaborative, sustainable and delivered as planned. Reliability and transparency are goals of DAD; we want to build trust and confidence to meet stakeholders' stated goals with relevant, consistent products that are delivered in a timely manner.

It is a DAD goal to create tools that are meaningful and collaborative as appropriate. These tools should be founded in the strategic plan, with all projects tying back to strategic plan/vision. It is a goal that all products have the ability to interface with existing and future projects. We will have periodic review of individual applications in the portfolio - and of the portfolio as a whole.

Guiding Principals

Systems created within the group of participating DAD members shall be considered for applicability to the academic community. Recommendations regarding architectural decisions for such applications shall be made in the context of use for all of Academic Affairs by the DAD Advisory Committee.

DAD projects must have agreed upon resource requirements and deliverables.

Distributed application development shall follow MOU documents as drawn up and agreed upon by the EVC, Business, and Technical representatives.