Nexus Tool Suite

Reducing the risk, cost and time to deployment of new business systems

Knowledge Nexus Tool Suite
neXus Navigator Reference Manager Diagram Manager neXus Explorer Domain Mapper Integration with MS Word Integration with MS Excel Visio Diagrammer Relationship Browser Entity Grid
	Business Transformation neXus The Business Transformation neXus is central access point to neXus KnowledgeBases. If you have several KnowledgeBases this is where you select among them. Once a KnowledgeBase has been selected the Transformation Manager provides access to Domain Explorers.

	Domain Explorers The Domain Explorer is the primary tool for interacting with the Knowledge neXus. It provides capabilities to navigate through the neXus, manipulate its contents, and to launch other neXus and Microsoft tools. The Domain Explorer takes on many faces depending on its subject matter. Configured explorers are listed below.
	Objectives and Strategies Change Programs and Projects Businesses and Organizations Products Services Supply Chains Business Processes Competency Inventory Competency Development Equipment			Facilities IT Development IT Infrastructure SW Inventory Knowledge Inventory Requirements References Diagrams Domains
Central Index Business Domains Business Vocabularies Business Language				Domain Browser The Domain Browser provides a central index to the Enterprise Encyclopedia. It reflects the domains that comprise the enterprise model, and uses the vocabulary of each domain. For instance, the Human Capital domain is captured in terms of Competency, Role, Motivation and Performance as shown in the figure. The Information Technology Development domains includes UML Use Cases, and Software Requirements in contrast. Each entity in a domain may have associated diagrams, reports, and other references such as Excel spreadsheets, Word documents, and PowerPoint presentations. The Domain Browser provides the capabilities to create, find and select entities within domains. Its toolbar enables Nexus tools be launched to browse, edit and manipulate selected entities

	neXus Navigator Enterprises are complex webs of domains such as marketing, manufacturing, information technology and human resources. The entities in these domains such as Tasks, Organizations, Products, Facilities, and Roles are related to each other in complex networks of interconnections. For example Tasks require Competencies; Products are produced by Processes; and Customers purchase Products. Relationship Browsers overcome the complexity of these interrelationships with pre-configured "browse paths" that place entities and their relationships between in larger contexts. Browse paths are available throughout the Nexus on diagrams, and in the Domain Browser, for instance. It is user configurable and these new views may be made accessible throughout the Nexus tool suite. The Business Architect comes pre-configured with many views typically used by analysts and managers.
User Configurable Browse Paths Categorize Entities Assess Change Impact
	Key features: Ad hoc relationship browsing Define new browse “paths” Save “paths” Access "paths" throughout the Nexus Create entities as relationship targets Add existing entities as relationship targets Browse categories of entity types
	Entity Grid Grids provide the ability to view and manipulate groups of entities in a tabular form. The Grid provides for rapid data entry. The Grid operates on sets of entities. The source of the set can be any entity list available in the Nexus applications.
					Operate on Entity Sets Enter Data Sort Print Export to Excel

		Reference Manager Provides capabilities to identify, define and browse references A reference is a source for knowledge or information about an entity. Sources may include MS Word documents, people with relevant knowledge, Web pages, published documents (not available for electronic linking), other electronic knowledge or information available through a software application. associated with an entity. Create references to MS Word documents and internal bookmarks Create references to Web sites and pages Create references to Publications Create references to other data files and launch their applications Create references to Subject Matter Experts Open electronic references on your PC, your LAN, or the Web

	Diagram Manager Provides capabilities for defining types of diagrams (business process diagrams, software diagrams, network diagrams, etc.), browsing diagrams for a selected entity, importing existing diagrams, and launching the Diagrammer. The diagram manager presents diagrams and diagram types for a specific entity in the Nexus. Create new types of diagrams Open stencils for editing Create new diagrams Import existing diagrams into the Nexus Open diagrams for editing

Explore Relationships			neXus Explorer Provides capabilities to navigate through relationships between entities in your domain model. The explorer operates like an "outliner" with the user selecting relationships to follow. Entities may be created, deleted or added as targets of relationships. Follow relationships between entities Create entities as relationship targets Add existing entities as relationship targets Browse categories of entity types


	MS Word Microsoft Word, of course, provides its users with the tools to produce documents. The Knowledge Nexus adds an nDyn toolbar that enables users to establish and navigate hyperlinks from Word to entities in the Knowledge Nexus. Establish hyperlinks to and from Knowledge Nexus entities Open hyper linked Nexus entities

Access Knowledge Nexus entities to populate spreadsheets Analyze data stored in the Knowledge Nexus Format and present data stored in the Knowledge Nexus
	MS Excel The Knowledge Nexus provides capabilities to move entities in the Nexus to and from Excel. Users may take advantage of the full power of Excel to analyze and present nexus information. The results of analysis can be used to update attributes in the Nexus. In the example shown above Competencies, Performance Levels, and People from the Nexus are reproduced in Excel for analysis and presentation.
	Visio Diagrammer Provides the tools to define and create diagrams. nDyn extensions to Visio provide capabilities to associate shapes on diagrams with entities in the Knowledge Nexus; and to represent relationships in the Nexus with connectors on the Visio diagrams. The integration of Visio and nDyn capabilities enables the Knowledge Nexus user to define and create diagrams that are unique to the knowledge domains they are managing. Create diagrams with the Visio diagramming interface Create Stencils for new types of Knowledge Nexus diagrams Create and edit Master Shapes Link diagram shapes to Nexus entities Link diagram connectors to Nexus relationships Navigate through the Nexus by expanding relationships and their targets Open property editors in the Nexus for linked Link existing shapes to entities in the Nexus Establish relationships between shapes associated with Nexus entities
Leverage Visio Stencils Use nDyn Stencils Add to nDyn Vocabularies Integrate Existing Diagrams into the Nexus
	The Nexus provides stencils for the following diagrams: Business Process Work Flow Production Flow Competency Map Cross Functional Process Organization Chart Knowledge Map Geographic Maps UML Use Case UML Static Structure Entity Relationship As Built Network Logical Network Corporate WAN Floor Plan
	MS Project Integration Connects Project Tasks and Resources into the Nexus Integrate with Competencies and Roles Integrate with Project deliverables Connect to Operational Knowledge
Connections to Tasks and Resources
	Domain Mapper Provides capabilities to define new (or enhance existing) domains. A domain is a distinctly delimited sphere of knowledge or a circumscribed area of human concern. Domains may also comprise other domains. For instance, the domain of business operations is comprised of human resource management, information technology, marketing, manufacturing, etc. Each of those subordinate domains delimits knowledge relevant to it., entities An entity is something that has objective reality in a domain. Entities may have either physical or abstract reality. Within the domain of business sales "products" are entities, and a product might be an automobile (physical entity) or an insurance policy (an abstract entity). A relationship is means of connecting entities in the knowledgebase. For instance, the book entities in a library might be be related to library card holder entities by a relationship called "check out to". Each type of entity has a defined set of relationships. A specific card holder "Steven Tyber" might have the book "Chess Masters" checked out. Define domains for your cyber world Develop vocabularies of entity types Define meaningful relationships between entities Define attributes to gather information about entities
Create New Domains Expand Vocabularies Define Relationships Add new Attributes