1. FAQs on the KMS Tool vs. LotusNotes Groupware vs. eGSK
Q#1. I understand that the KMS Tool is the underlying engine of the Pharma IT
Site. However, if the KMS tool allows us to post documents to it, why aren’t we
using LotusNotes instead?
A. First of all, not everyone in Pharma IT will have LotusNotes until either very
late 2001 or early 2002. Therefore, the KMS Tool is, at minimum, an interim
solution for knowledge sharing in Pharma IT. Secondly, the KMS has many
other features besides document management. An architectural evaluation of
the KMS, LotusNotes Groupware (v5), and eGSK will begin in early May and will
allow us to choose the best tool for the longer term.
Q#2. I have a LotusNotes database in Philadelphia right now. Do I need to
migrate it or its documents to the Pharma IT Site (KMS Tool) now?
A. Not necessarily. In the next release of the KMS Tool (Version 1.7, due out
soon), you should be able to post LINKS on the KMS to LotusNotes dbs,
documents, or folders. This will allow those who do not have LotusNotes to
VIEW the information via the Pharma IT site (under the web), and it will allow
those who already do have LotusNotes on their PC to read/write to the
particular database. Additionally, new employees of GSK and/or those unfamiliar
with existing PHL LotusNotes dbs who work in Pharma IT will use the Pharma
IT site as the navigation point to find all kinds of non-homogenous information
to help them do their jobs --- LotusNotes dbs, worldwide non-GSK newsgroups,
links to internal and external Web sites, web applications running under the
Pharma IT site, KMS-hosted documents, and more. Note: if you know that you
will be wanting to post LotusNotes links to the Pharma IT site, please contact
Margaret Dischler at mailto:mp19798@gsk.com as soon as possible so that we
can work to web-enable your database. Also, see Question#5 below for more
info.
Q#3. Will we always use the KMS as the underlying engine for the Pharma IT
Site?
A. A study will begin in early May to assess the capabilities of the KMS in
relation to LotusNotes groupware and eGSK. It is too early to determine either
the intersection points of these tools or if the tools will continue to serve
individual needs. Please review the answers to the first question posted above
for more.

2. Q#4. If I post information to the Pharma IT Site today, and then we later decide
to move the information to a new tool, will the information be transferred over
for me?
A. Again, we do not know if the KMS Tool will persist as the underlying engine
for the Pharma IT site or if a transition will occur in the 2002 timeframe.
Regardless, it would be the intention of the technical team supporting the KMS
to migrate all information seamlessly to the new tool, should a new tool be
chosen. However, since the KMS tool does automatically set ownership for each
file, folder, or link, you will be contacted at that time if you own any items to let
you know what the plan is for your individual items. In the past, items have been
migrated on behalf of the owners with minimal involvement from the owners.
So, feel free to post as much information to the new Pharma IT site as you like.
The more you share information, the better!
Q#5. I’m only familiar with how to use LotusNotes. I’d like to continue to use
LotusNotes instead. Is that ok?
A. It depends. If you need RTP individuals to post information to your
LotusNotes database, then you will need to make sure that each of those
individuals has LotusNotes installed first on their PC and has the proper training
so that they can both read and write to your LotusNotes database. If you cannot
easily determine which users will need access to read/write to your db, you may
want to consider using the Pharma IT Site’s KMS capabilities for now to avoid
administration overhead. Also, if you have the need to post only 1 or a few
documents/folders/links/web-apps and don’t have the need to create an entire
LotusNotes database, you may want to consider the ease of using the Pharma IT
site’s folders where anyone can post information, namely “News”, “Best
Practices”, “Technologies to Watch”, and “Projects|Teamspace”. For training
on how to create folders and post documents or links on the Pharma IT site,
choose ‘Help’ on the main menu on the Pharma IT site, or wait for the upcoming
demo/training class, or use the ‘Feedback’ button on the site to ask for
individualized training. Once you post information to the Pharma IT site, you
can insert the URL to your information in any email that you send so that
Pharma IT employees won’t have to navigate the entire site to find your
information.
However, if you know that everyone who needs read/write access to your
LotusNotes db does have that capability right now or can obtain it, then you are
fine using LotusNotes. However, at minimum and for optimal knowledge
sharing, you’ll want to make your LotusNotes db is “known” to the Pharma IT
Site by posting a link to the Pharma IT site that, in turn, points to your
LotusNotes db. This way, everyone will know about your LotusNotes db, and, at
minimum, be able to view the information via web on the Pharma IT Site. This
capability to post a link on the Pharma IT site to a LotusNotes db will become

3. available soon, but you will need to web-enable your LotusNotes db to facilitate
this. Contact Margaret Dischler asap for more info mailto:mp19798@gsk.com .
Do you have more questions on this topic? If so, please send your questions and
indicate if you would like your name withheld to Margaret Dischler at
mailto:mp19798@gsk.com .