DTS Glossary

Agile

Project management approach used primarily for software development, characterised by division of tasks into short phases of work. Link

Agile with SCRUM

please see SCRUM. Link

Alteryx

Data preparation and workflow tool. Link.

APEX

See Oracle APEX.

ARDS

Academic Registrars Division Systems

BLT within ARD looking after Salesforce and SITS.

ASCP

Assessment Services Change Program

Programme looking at developing improvements to LSE's assessments process. Link

AWS

Amazon Web Services

Azure

Microsoft's cloud plaftorm.

BIU

Business Improvement Unit

LSE Division focusing on enhancing the delivery of Academic, HR, Finance and Estates services, alongside improving processes and systems aimed at students. Link.

BLT

Business Led Technology

BLT Team

Business Led Technology Team

Teams in LSE which manage any core system. The division responsible for the business function is also responsible for the delivery of the technological systems supporting it. Although the teams are outside DTS, they are still bound to DTS standards and policies.

BO

Business Objects

Reporting tool.

Bomgar

A remote support provider that allows support technicians to remotely connect to end-user systems through firewalls from their computer or mobile device.

BPMN

Business Process Model and Notation

Graphical representation for specifying business processes in a business process model. Link

BPPB

Business Projects Portfolio Board

The strategic approving decision board for School wide projects.

Business Continuity

The steps taken to ensure smooth running of the business function continues when one or more components of that function are no longer available, such as the supporting technology, personnel or required spaces.  Business continuity is not just related to the loss of technical services.

CAB

Change Advisory Board

Group that evaluate and approve changes to the IT environment, chaired by the DTS Service Manager.

CAQDAS

Computer-assisted (or aided) qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS) offers tools that assist with qualitative research such as transcription analysis, coding and text interpretation, recursive abstraction, content analysis, discourse analysis, grounded theory methodology, etc.

CAS

Central Authentication Service

Provides a single place to login when using a variety of LSE web sites.

CDR

Career Development Review. Link

Cherwell

IT service management tool used by DTS. 

Cloud Assurance Questionnaire

Method used by LSE to assess the risks around cloud services. Must be undertaken before a cloud service contract is signed.

CoP

Community of Practice

Groups who share a concern/set of problems about a topic, and who deepen their knowledge and expertise by interacting on an ongoing basis.

CRM

Customer Relationship Management

Tool used to manage interactions with customers and potential customers. LSE uses Salesforce. Link 

CMS

Content Management System

Application used to manage web content, allowing multiple contributors to create, edit and publish. LSE uses Contensis.

CRIS

Current Research Information System

System to store, manage and exchange metadata for the research activity funded by a research funder or conducted at a research-performing organisation. LSE uses Converis and Pure.

Cyber Essentials

Self-assessment UK Government-sponsored information security certification.

Cyber Essentials Plus

Externally assessed UK Government-sponsored information security certification.

Disaster Recovery

While business continuity focuses on the continuation of a business service during any kind of incident, and service continuity tries to reduce the likelihood of a technical service outage, disaster recovery addresses the return to service from the effects of a major incident.  This is relevant for any time the MIIRP is initiated and not just for technology incidents.

DTMB

Data & Technology Management Board

The Data and Technology Management Board exists to assist the School Management Committee (SMC) in ensuring that the LSE (the School) derives the value and benefit it expects from its investment in Data and Technology platforms and infrastructure and is making best use of Digital capabilities in the conduct of School business.

DTS

Data and Technology Services

DTS Leadership Team

DTS CIO and Directors.

Echo360

System used by LSE for scheduled automatic recording of lectures. Link

EDI

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Link

EIA

Equality Impact Assessment

A process designed to ensure that a policy, project or scheme does not discriminate against any disadvantaged or vulnerable people.

Engage ATS

LSE's online recruitment system, managed by the HR Manager Information and Systems.

ELT / ETL

Extract Load Transform / Extract Transform Load

Process o processes to move and transform data between source and target locations.

Fabian

The HPC service for research.

FR

Functional Requirement. 

Any requirement which specifies what the system should do.

Gantt Chart

Project management chart representing activity against time. Link

GDS

Government Digital Services Link

GoldenGate (Oracle)

Software product that allows you to replicate, filter, and transform data from one database to another database. Using Oracle GoldenGate, you can move committed transactions across multiple heterogeneous systems in your enterprise.

Hallpad

Web application that manages student accommodation. Link

HAVAS

Suppliers of Engage ATS.

HESA

Higher Education Statistics Agency

Body that collects, assures and disseminates data about higher education (HE) in the UK. Link

Highlight Report

A monthly report submitted by Project Managers to the BIU Portfolio board to track progress.

HPC

High Performance Computing Link

HR

Human Resources

HRS

Human Resources System

Old name for ResourceLink.

IaaS

Infrastructure as a Service

A cloud computing service where enterprises rent or lease servers for compute and storage in the cloud. LSE currently uses Azure and AWS.

IDAM

Identity and Access Management (sometimes IAM or IDM)

A framework of policies and technologies for ensuring that the proper people in an enterprise have the appropriate access to technology resources.

IGC

International Growth Centre

IMT

Information Management and Technology

Previous name of DTS division.

IRDAP

In Year Resits & Deferrals

Business process managed by ARD.

iRoam

Self-service MAC laptops for students in the Library and LSE Life maintained by DTS.

ISO27001

The International Information Security Standard, used to create a certified Information Security Management System. 

ITIL

IT Infrastructure Library

A best practice framework for IT service management. Link

ITSM

IT Service Management

The process of designing, delivering, managing, and improving the IT services an organization provides to its end users. Its focus is on aligning IT processes and services.

Janet Network

LSE's internet connection, provided by JISC. Link

JISC

Joint Information Systems Committee

A not-for-profit company whose role is to support institutions of higher education and research. It provides network and IT services, digital resources, relevant advice, and procurement consulting, while researching and developing new information technologies and modes of working. Link

KPI

Key Performance Indicator

Type of performance measurement. Link

LFY

LSE for you

Staff and student portal. Link. 

LSE Network Account

Account given to staff/students enabling access to School computers and LSE systems e.g. Moodle. Expires a few months after leaving the School.

LSE Public Account

Typically given to students as an applicant before they join the School. Also given to Alummi to allow access to transcripts/exam results/CareerHub. Uses a non-LSE email address as the username. It does not allow access to School computers or LSE systems such as Moodle.

Maxxess

Electronic security system for the door locks.

MFA

Multi Factor Authentication

Security system that requires more than one method of authentication to verify the user’s identity for a login or other transaction. Link

Microsoft E3 & E5

Office 365 licences (the higher the number, the more features). Sometimes they are referred to as A1, A3 or A5.

MS Project

Project management software tool by Microsoft.

MSP

Managing Successful Programmes

Globally recognised framework,which many organisations use to ensure effective program management. It offers principles, processes and general good practice advice. Link

Moodle

Virtual Learning Environment used by LSE and other universities. Link

MoSCow

Must have, Should have, Could have, and Won't have

The MoSCoW method is a prioritization technique used in management, business analysis, project management, and software development to reach a common understanding with stakeholders on the importance they place on the delivery of each requirement.

MyView

LSE employee and manager self-service portal. Link.

NFR

Non-functional Requirement

Any requirement that specifies how the system performs a certain function.

Norman

Service providing out of hours IT support to the Service Desk.

Northgate

Old name for Zellis.

NOW

New Operation Work Request

Lightweight version of NPR. Only used by DTS..

NPR

New Project Request

The project intitiation process managed by BIU. Link.

OCI

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure

OneFinance

LSE's financial system provided by TechnologyOne. It is managed by Finance Systems. Link

OfS

Office for Students

Independent regulator for Higher Education in England. Link. 

Oracle

Database platform used for many of the core LSE systems including ResourceLink and SITS.

Oracle APEX

Web application development framework from Oracle used for some LSE applications.

Oracle GoldenGate

Please see GoldenGate.

PaaS

Platform as a Service

Category of cloud computing services that provides a platform allowing customers to develop, run, and manage applications without the complexity of building and maintaining the infrastructure typically associated with developing and launching an app. Link

Password Manager/Management Tool

It allows a user to create unique, strong passwords across multiple accounts and stores them securely behind one master password. https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/top-tips-for-staying-secure-online/password-managers

PB

BIU Portfolio Board

Group that review and approve NPRs (LSE wide).

Papercut

Print management software used by LSE.

PCP

Portfolio Concept Papers

Provides an outline of a proposed project or initiative..

PCI DSS

Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard

Penetration Test

External assessment of exploitable vulnerabilities in systems or services.

Phishing

Phishing is the fraudulent attempt to obtain sensitive information, or data, such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by disguising oneself as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Link.

PPM

Programme Progress Meeting

Group that review DTS change projects progress and discuss portfolio management.

PRINCE2

Project Management Methodology Projects in Controlled Environments

A process-based method for effective project management. Link

Programme

A set of related projects and activities.

Project Board

Board that governs and steers the project.

Portfolio

Collection of projects and programmes.

PSS

Professional Services Staff

PTS

Professionalising the Service

Programme designed to improve DTS and BLTs services.

RAG Report

Red, Amber, Green Report

A monthly report submitted by DTS Project Managers to the PPM to track progress.

ResourceLink

HR system provided by Zellis.

RFC

Request for Change

RIS

Research Information System

Salesforce

LSE's chosen Customer Relationship Managment (CRM) tool, managed by ARD. Link

SALTO

Physical access control system for doors. This system is managed by LSE Security.

SAS

Student Accomodation System

see Hallpad.

SASS

Software Analytics & Solutions Suite

SaaS

Software as a Service

Software licensing and delivery model in which software is licensed on a subscription basis and is centrally hosted.

SCRUM

Agile process for delivering complex products.

SLG

DTS Service Leaders Group

SDA

Solution Design Authority

Service Continuity

The necessary steps put in place to ensure a technical service is available at the times that it is required to be available to support the business function.  Some services need to be more available than others so the arrangements will be different (and therefore the costs to implement will differ).  The service continuity requirements must be included in any new service testing so that they can be built into the service before it goes live.

Shibboleth

A standards based, open source software package for web single sign-on across or within organizational boundaries. It allows sites to make informed authorization decisions for individual access of protected online resources in a privacy-preserving manner.

SIEM

Security Incident & Event Monitoring

SITS

Systems In Tuition(s)

The student records system, managed by ARD.

SMC

School Management Committee Link

Spoofing

Spoofing is the act of disguising a communication from an unknown source as being from a known, trusted source. Link. 

SQL

Structured Query Language 

The language used for querying and extracting data from databases.

SRO

Senior Responsible Officer

Individual responsible for ensuring that a project/programme of change meets its objectives and delivers the projected benefits.

SSEIP

Summer School, Executive, & International Programs

SSIP

Student Services Improvement Program

Stage Gate Review

Formal review point in a project.

Student Hub

The primary portal for student systems. It is managed by Communications.

T1

TechnologyOne

Company that provides the software for OneFinance.

Tableau

Visual analytics platform that is used by LSE to provide management information for the School.

TDS

Training and Development System

LSE in-house system to book training.

Triage Board

see Project Board.

TSS

Teaching Side Support

DTS team responsible for day to day maintenance of teaching rooms and providing cover for events

UC

Unified Comms

Business and marketing concept describing the integration of enterprise communication services. LSE uses Redcentric .

UCISA

Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association. Link

VLE

Virtual Learning Environment

VoIP

Voice Over IP (Internet Protocol)

A method and group of technologies for the delivery of voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol (IP) networks, such as the Internet.

Waterfall

Traditional project management approach that uses sequential phases, while Agile methods use iterative work cycles called sprints. Link

Zellis

Providers of ResourceLink.