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Information Exchange

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{{IMSMANG}} is designed to support information exchange with many IMSMA users and Mine Action stakeholders at numerous sites. These users can include implementing partners, Regional Mine Action Centers and other authorities (e.g. Ministry of Health).
* Ensure that the implementing partners have Data Entry, Approval and export/import Data Entry Forms permissions.
=== Avoiding import to the national database issues===__NOEDITSECTION__
By establishing a set of limited permissions for the implementing partners, information managers can prevent the accidental or intentional creation of new data elements not available in the national database that will affect the ability of the Central Mine Action Authority to import Data Entry Forms and cause the national dataset to become fractured.
 
By limiting Auxiliary data permissions to the Central Mine Action Authority, information managers can prevent complications when importing Data Entry Forms. Because Data Entry Forms refers to Auxiliary data, it is important that each country have one common set of Auxiliary data to facilitate exchange. If the Auxiliary data is not properly synchronised, the exchange of Data Entry Forms can result in import issues which must be manually resolved. While {{IMSMANG}} provides an interface for resolving these kinds of issues, it is recommended to reduce the occurrence of these issues by limiting any creation of Auxiliary data to the Central Mine Action Authority who can then distribute an updated dataset as necessary.
 
==Sending Backups to Reset to a Common Dataset==__NOEDITSECTION__
The easiest way to ensure that each site is working from a common dataset is to distribute a full backup of the {{IMSMANG}} dataset to each site on a regular basis. This can occur weekly, monthly or quarterly, but the key is to distribute an official dataset to each site regularly to ensure that auxiliary data is up to date and that any changes made to other parts of the dataset are distributed. In this way, organisations can maintain a common set of national statistics and the dataset reflects the decisions made by the Central Mine Action Authority to resolve errors or issues in importing and exchanging Data Entry Forms.
 
It is important to understand, however, that the restoration of a backup file overwrites the data at the regional site including any locally created searches and reports. So, the recipient sites should consider the following recommendations:
 
* Make a complete backup prior to restoring the Central Mine Action Authority’s backup.
* Export all Data Entry Forms that have been entered since the last exchange with the Central Mine Action Authority before restoring a backup.
* Restore only the {{IMSMANG}} database and GIS database. This preserves local customisations of peripheral elements such as Data Entry Form templates and iReport templates, which can be reimported into {{IMSMANG}}.
* Request that any searches or other non-exportable elements that are important for regional site use be created in the Central Mine Action Authority’s dataset prior to distribution so they do not need to be recreated regionally each time a new backup is distributed.
 
==Collecting Regular Feedback==__NOEDITSECTION__
In any information exchange activity, it is important to have regular sessions or meetings to collect feedback and discuss issues or improvements to the information exchange process. One recommendation is to establish a feedback forum where organisations can address data quality issues and make adjustments to the information exchange process. Topics to address in such a forum include:
 
* frequency of data exchange
* standardisation of reports and searches included in the central dataset
* permissions and role changes
* creation or modification of auxiliary data
* form template changes
 
By collecting feedback on these issues, information managers can help ensure that decentralised information exchange works as expected and set up a quality assurance mechanism to prevent data quality issues from affecting the programme’s information management.
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[[Category:DSA]]
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