We used both Internet Explorer 5, running on a Windows 2000 Professional RC2 workstation, and Netscape Navigator 4.08, running on a Windows 98 notebook PC, without any peculiarities. The application presents browsers with straight HTML and no client-side executables, making it appropriate for thin clients. The users can then search for change-request tickets or create new ones. Users can print out tickets or perform tasks on them. Those tasks include annotating the ticket, indicating that a ticket has been approved, installed or validated, or attaching supporting documentation files.
Little training is required.
When it comes to documentation, Change Management Expert continues with its all-electronic metaphor. The software links to noncontext-sensitive help located on AIM's Web site, in both HTML and downloadable Adobe Acrobat PDF format. The weakness of this approach is that an administrator in crisis would be at the mercy of his Internet bandwidth. As a stand-alone database application, all CME knows is the contents of the change tickets. Because you have no system for tracking the status of changes applied to your network, or because requests from frontline support technicians keep getting lost, or because you need a facility for searching through historical actions that your staff has taken.