The enhancement process in no way supplants the support processes Polaris Library Systems has in place for taking bug reports and collecting feedback from contract holders.  Instead, the enhancement process provides another source of customer input to the development process.

For the purposes of this proposal the term 'member' means a Polaris Library Systems contract holder organization that has joined the Polaris Users Group and is a member in good standing.

Enhancement Process:

1) PUG gathers enhancement requests by inviting each member to submit no more than 24 enhancement requests to the Polaris Users Group per cycle.

2) Requests may be submitted via a web form to provide format control. Requesters will be asked name, email address, member name, subsystem and request.  All requests should be submitted through the voting representative to the Polaris Users Group.

3) A cut-off date for enhancement submissions is announced and will occur at least ninety days prior to the annual meeting.  The cut-off date is needed to close the set of requests that will be considered at the annual meeting. 

4) Subsystem champions are employed to manage the elicitation process and to provide expert advice to Polaris Library Systems designers.  The users group Steering Committee will appoint or take applications for subsystem champions. Each subsystem champions subcommittee will consist of not less than two and not more than eight users.

5) Subsystem champions:

a) Eliminate duplicate requests (duplicate requests may be consolidated)

b) Clarify meaning if needed

c) Manage any conflicting inputs

d) Re-state the requests in a consistent language that describes the task that the user needs to accomplish (user requirement statement)

e) Communicate with users and with Polaris Library Systems staff

f) Review specifications and/or prototypes

g) Identify the set of features that delivers the highest value to the greatest number of customers

6) Subsystem champions should be:

a) Knowledgeable (of Polaris functionality and library procedures)

b) Conscientious and persevering

c) Willing to achieve consensus

d) Able to respect other points of view

7) Subsystem champions share the entire list of requests, with priority enhancements noted, with Polaris Library Systems.  

8) Polaris Library System reviews the list twice so they can provide additional information at later dates during their software development process.      

9) All members are invited to vote on the posted list of priority enhancements. Each member chooses the top four enhancements per subsystem for each posted subsystem list. There is no ranking or weight within the four - each will be given equal consideration. Members will have at least 30 days to vote.

10) Discussion of planned and proposed enhancements will take place at the annual users group meeting.

Enhancement Process