Journal article
Dissemination and continuous improvement of a CTSA-based software platform, SPARCRequest(C), using an open source governance model
Journal of clinical and translational science, Vol.3(5), pp.227-233
10/01/2019
DOI: 10.1017/cts.2019.403
PMCID: PMC6813563
PMID: 31660247
Abstract
SPARCRequest(C) (Services, Pricing, & Application for Research Centers) is a web-based research management system that provides a modular and adaptable "electronic storefront" for research-related services. Developed by the South Carolina Clinical & Translational Research Institute at the Medical University of South Carolina, it was released as open source (OS) code in 2014. The adoption of SPARCRequest(C) accelerated in 2016, when, to ensure responsiveness to the needs of partners, its governance also became open. This governance model enables OS partners to suggest and prioritize features for new releases. As a result, the software code has become more modularized and can be easily customized to meet the diverse needs of adopting hubs. This article describes innovative aspects of the OS governance model, including a multi-institutional committee structure to set strategic vision, make operational decisions, and develop technical solutions; a virtual roadmap that ensures transparency and aligns adopters with release-based goals; and a business process model that provides a robust voting mechanism for prioritizing new features while also enabling fast-paced bug fixes. OS software evolves best in open governance environments. OS governance has made SPARCRequest(C) more responsive to user needs, attracted more adopters, and increased the proportion of code contributed by adopters.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Dissemination and continuous improvement of a CTSA-based software platform, SPARCRequest(C), using an open source governance model
- Creators
- Wenjun He - University of South CarolinaRoyce Sampson - Medical University of South CarolinaJihad Obeid - Medical University of South CarolinaKyle Hutson - Medical University of South CarolinaBoyd M. Knosp - University of IowaBernard A. LaSalle - University of UtahBrian Melancon - Pennington Biomedical Research CenterKimberly McGhee - Medical University of South CarolinaLeslie A. Lenert - Medical University of South CarolinaKathleen Brady - Medical University of South Carolina
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of clinical and translational science, Vol.3(5), pp.227-233
- DOI
- 10.1017/cts.2019.403
- PMID
- 31660247
- PMCID
- PMC6813563
- NLM abbreviation
- J Clin Transl Sci
- ISSN
- 2059-8661
- eISSN
- 2059-8661
- Publisher
- Cambridge Univ Press
- Number of pages
- 7
- Grant note
- UL1 TR001450; UL1 TR001450-03S1 / National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) U54 GM104940 / National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 10/01/2019
- Academic Unit
- Medicine Administration
- Record Identifier
- 9984384758402771
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