University first to use BitWise software in academic setting

BitWise Solutions, an Indianapolis-based technology firm, has agreed to donate Bravelo, a project and knowledge software program to Ball State. The software, valued at $122,000, will be tested in student labs and college administration offices.

“Bravelo is normally used in private business to manage complex projects and has never been used on the academic side of a university until now,” said Scott Olson, dean of the College of Communication, Information and Media.

The pilot project will determine how the software can help manage complex projects, such as curriculum development, the promotion and tenure process, and other academic affairs functions. The software will also be tested for use in admissions and donor development.

“Graduate students enrolled in the Center for Information and Communication Sciences will be using it in their knowledge management classes,” Olson said. “They’ll also be experimenting with it to see what its capabilities are and to develop new uses for the product in this very different setting.”

Results of the pilot program will be sent to BitWise to be analyzed after the fall semester is completed, he said.

Bravelo, an Internet-based collaboration workspace, is designed to maximize the productivity of people working in teams or groups. The software makes it easy for team members, regardless of where they are located, to share and access knowledge, make better decisions in less time, and keep key business initiatives on schedule.

BitWise Solutions was founded in 1991 by Ron Brumbarger, chief executive officer, and Scott Workman, chief technology officer, to provide organizations with simple solutions for interactive business processes.

For more information, contact Olson at solson@bsu.eduor (765) 285-6000. Information about BitWise may be found at http://www.bitwisesolutions.com/.)