RCA Open Source Application: ROSA Manual/Introduction

UNIT 1 - INTRODUCTION
Objectives of Unit 1 After completing this unit, you should be able to:
 * Identify the goal for developing the ROSA Manual
 * Verify the components necessary to successfully run the model
 * Understand the hardware and software requirements needed for the ROSA model
 * Acknowledge the level of technical knowledge recommended

The ROSA Package
The ROSA package contains the elements listed below. Note: All the necessary files (databases, applications, manuals, storyboard etc.) are collected into one compressed zip folder; therefore, all of the following items will be automatically downloaded as one file. To download ROSA, please register through the link provided here.

The ROSA download includes:

Installation Guide – this page will guide you through the installation and setup process. The first step in beginning the install process is by double-clicking on the Startup shortcut in the zipped folder. Palo For Excel Installation File – this is the entire open-source business intelligence program called Palo For Excel that is required to run the ROSA databases and application files. ROSA Base Model Database – a completely populated database showing a Resource Consumption Accounting (RCA) model that allows the user to view and manipulate data for a fictitious pharmaceutical company referred to as ‘Get Well Manufacturing’ (GWM). ROSA Sample Database – a shell-like structure has been constructed without any master data or cost data to enable a user to input their own data and create an RCA model using their company’s own data. Excel Application File – this Excel application file titled ROSA_v1_0 is the interface used to view, import, and update, delete cost model information and calculate the rates as described and shown in this manual. Visual representation of the Get Well Manufacturing Storyboard – this file is a basic flow diagram of the fictitious pharmaceutical company’s RCA cost model and provides the users with a graphic representation of the cost objects and Provider / Consumer relationships in the Get Well Mfg. model.

Licensing
This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or any later version.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License in Appendix B for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program. If not, please refer to http://www.gnu.org/licenses and /or Appendix B in this manual.

Requirements
For an overview of the system hardware/software recommended components and the recommended user’s knowledge level, please see the list below.
 * Hardware Requirements
 * Palo Without a Server //  Recommended Core Duo CPU, 1 GB RAM, 60 MB Free disk space
 * Palo With Server //  Recommended Core 2 Duo CPU 2 GB RAM, 1 GB Free disk space
 * Software Requirements
 * Palo Without Server Microsoft based requirements [For use on a personal computer.]
 * Windows 2000/XP pro
 * Palo With Server Microsoft based requirements [For use on multi-user server.]
 * Windows 2000/XP pro
 * Windows Server 2000/2003/2008
 * Windows Vista
 * Palo Excel Client [For use on client supported by the above listed server.]
 * Excel 2003 SP3
 * Excel 2007
 * Recommended Level for Technical Knowledge
 * Basic working knowledge of Windows Operating System
 * Basic knowledge of Microsoft Excel
 * Basic understanding and usage of system tray
 * Basic understanding of Resource Consumption Accounting quantity-based method for cost modeling

For more information on Palo requirements or Unix/Linux and Open (operating system requirements), please refer to page 10 of the Palo Manual that is available for downloaded from the Jedox website. Palo For Excel Training may also be helpful in conjunction with this manual, particularly, in areas concerning specific Palo installation, operations and model configuration. For additional help or resources, please refer to the last page in the pdf version of this manual.