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1. Introduction

The development of directory services was prompted by the exponential growth in the use of electronic communication. The rationale being that the more addresses and means of communication there are the greater the need for supporting directories. Put simply, electronic directories were originally conceived with the needs of people in mind. In fact the concept has a much wider applicability as directories can represent many different types of data (not just e-mail addresses and phone numbers) and organize them in many different ways (not just as `White Pages' information). Consequently, present day electronic directories are regarded as infrastructural services. By providing the focus of global addressing and data needs the directory can and will underpin much of all future computer networking strategy.

IT planners are beginning to understand the potential of a flexible directory and are seriously looking at the need for an enterprise-wide service. The territory, however, will be new for most managers and few staff are likely to have the appropriate skills. Many organizations will develop a list of requirements and tender these to a set of vendors. Some will purchase shrink wrapped software and implement the service themselves. This document aims to assist by examining the directory concept and how successful service deployment can be achieved. The assessment of functional requirements, translation to design, implementation and subsequent service maintenance are discussed.

The issues associated with directories span a broad range and relate to the legal, technical and organizational. The skills called for during the deployment effort will be diverse and are unlikely to be provided by any one group. As a result, the process is likely to be collaborative and contributions will certainly be made by various parts of the organization. Legal issues, database management and data ownership aspects will, for example, be the preserve of administrators, while system issues will be in the domain of the IT department. Involvement of all relevant groups should be foremost in the implementers mind. It is certainly necessary to exercise a degree of sensitivity as the service will have a great effect on the way staff work and the way the organization operates as a whole.

1.1 About This Document

"Implementing an Organizational Directory Service" was written under the auspices of the European Commission sponsored EuroView project. EuroView aims to research and advance the use of distributed directories by government institutions across the community. Although the targeted at IT bodies within European Administration, the information contained applies equally well to any other corporate body intending to implement a directory service.

This document is the second in a series providing guidance to directory planners and implementers. The first, "Planning Directory Services", provides a high level management overview of the steps involved in delivering a corporate directory service. The third in the series, "The Directory Deployers Handbook", will be a detailed version of this report.