Any new application design must begin with certain basic analysis and design tasks. This is just as applicable whether our design is for new functionality to be integrated into NAV or is for an enhancement/expansion of existing NAV capabilities.

First, determine what underlying data is required. What will it take to construct the information the users need to see? What level of detail and in what structural format must the data be stored so that it may be quickly and completely retrieved? Once we have defined the inputs that are required, we must identify the sources of this material. Some may be input manually, some may be forwarded from other systems, some may be derived from historical accumulations of data, and some will be derived from combinations of all these, and more. In any case, every component of the information needed must have a clearly defined point of origin, schedule of arrival, and format.