QuickSchools.com
Encyclopedia
QuickSchools.com is an online school management system that runs on the Application Service Provider
model. It was released in mid-2008 by Maestro Planning Solutions founded in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2002. Typical features such as admissions, student information management, scheduling and grading functionalities are made available over the internet using the software as a service
model.
software. The company was founded in early 2003 after winning the Venture 2002 Business Plan Writing competition . This competition was organized by McKinsey & Co and supported by Malaysia's largest venture capital
company, Mavcap and the Ministry of Finance of Malaysia. With the publicity and support garnered from the win, the company was born.
In 2006, Maestro made an exploratory move into the schools market via a project for a premier Malaysian private school, Kolej Tuanku Ja'afar. Maestro used the same optimalOne platform and injected supply chain ideas into the creation of a School Management System for this project. This cross-fertilization of ideas from supply chain into the school management system was recognized by KTJ as being different from several school management systems it was evaluating at the time.
In January 2008, Maestro decided to embark on launching this school administrative software as an online system, and it was subsequently branded as QuickSchools.com a fully online school management system for small schools.
In April 2009, Maestro Planning Solutions raised 4.5 million [Malaysian Ringgit] in venture capital
funded by DTA Growth Capital, Malaysia. The financing will support QuickSchool.com's expansion into the US school market and strengthen the company's R&D as well as its sales & marketing efforts.
Also in April 2009, Maestro received a grant of 1.06 million Malaysian Ringgit
to spear-head the R&D of a [Web 2.0] timetable scheduling software that will eventually be a part of QuickSchools.com. The grant was awarded by Mdec (Multimedia Development Corporation
, Malaysia).
On August 17th 2009, QuickSchools released a brand new version of its school management system based on extensive feedback from the current user base. This approach to software design was decided upon as best way forward because it focused more on improving the user experience. Therefore more attention was give to introducing a simple user interface
with extensive feature hiding.
One of the key improvements is to allow users to be up and running in minutes. The administrator simply registers his/her school on the website along with a custom domain for the school. The software then automatically creates and publishes a fully functional school management system in real time. The admin can then proceed to 'invite' teachers and other faculty to test out the system. Another improvement involves a 'LiveFeed' feature that creates notifications when certain activities take place.
The essential paradigm shift
achieved here is the way the software reformats to match to the user's requirements. Only the features required by a specific school are made available - making the software very easy to use. This makes the barriers to entry
almost negligible. QuickSchool's long term goal is to create software that will require no technical support
and no training, and this release goes a long way to achieving this.
As in most industries, the idea of using the software as a service
model for schools started garnering interest. A couple of early players emerged in this space, such as RenWeb
and Teacherease.
QuickSchools.com made its debut in this space in mid-2008. QuickSchools.com offers its entire suite of solutions via a Web2.0 internet application. Schools subscribe to the application by paying a fixed per-student, per-month fee. In order to make this possible, trainings are provided online, and support is provided out of their Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia office.
Servers are located in 2 locations around the world. The first location was established in Malaysia in January 2008, and the second location was established in Seattle, US in August 2008.
Application service provider
An application service provider is a business that provides computer-based services to customers over a network. Software offered using an ASP model is also sometimes called On-demand software or software as a service ....
model. It was released in mid-2008 by Maestro Planning Solutions founded in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2002. Typical features such as admissions, student information management, scheduling and grading functionalities are made available over the internet using the software as a service
Software as a Service
Software as a service , sometimes referred to as "on-demand software," is a software delivery model in which software and its associated data are hosted centrally and are typically accessed by users using a thin client, normally using a web browser over the Internet.SaaS has become a common...
model.
Origins
Maestro Planning Solutions early origins was in providing supply chain managementSupply chain management
Supply chain management is the management of a network of interconnected businesses involved in the ultimate provision of product and service packages required by end customers...
software. The company was founded in early 2003 after winning the Venture 2002 Business Plan Writing competition . This competition was organized by McKinsey & Co and supported by Malaysia's largest venture capital
Venture capital
Venture capital is financial capital provided to early-stage, high-potential, high risk, growth startup companies. The venture capital fund makes money by owning equity in the companies it invests in, which usually have a novel technology or business model in high technology industries, such as...
company, Mavcap and the Ministry of Finance of Malaysia. With the publicity and support garnered from the win, the company was born.
In 2006, Maestro made an exploratory move into the schools market via a project for a premier Malaysian private school, Kolej Tuanku Ja'afar. Maestro used the same optimalOne platform and injected supply chain ideas into the creation of a School Management System for this project. This cross-fertilization of ideas from supply chain into the school management system was recognized by KTJ as being different from several school management systems it was evaluating at the time.
In January 2008, Maestro decided to embark on launching this school administrative software as an online system, and it was subsequently branded as QuickSchools.com a fully online school management system for small schools.
In April 2009, Maestro Planning Solutions raised 4.5 million [Malaysian Ringgit] in venture capital
Venture capital
Venture capital is financial capital provided to early-stage, high-potential, high risk, growth startup companies. The venture capital fund makes money by owning equity in the companies it invests in, which usually have a novel technology or business model in high technology industries, such as...
funded by DTA Growth Capital, Malaysia. The financing will support QuickSchool.com's expansion into the US school market and strengthen the company's R&D as well as its sales & marketing efforts.
Also in April 2009, Maestro received a grant of 1.06 million Malaysian Ringgit
Malaysian ringgit
The Malaysian ringgit is the currency of Malaysia. It is divided into 100 sen...
to spear-head the R&D of a [Web 2.0] timetable scheduling software that will eventually be a part of QuickSchools.com. The grant was awarded by Mdec (Multimedia Development Corporation
Multimedia Development Corporation
The Multimedia Development Corporation is a government-owned institution responsible for the management of the Multimedia Super Corridor in Malaysia as a technology industry and commerce zone....
, Malaysia).
On August 17th 2009, QuickSchools released a brand new version of its school management system based on extensive feedback from the current user base. This approach to software design was decided upon as best way forward because it focused more on improving the user experience. Therefore more attention was give to introducing a simple user interface
User interface
The user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine interaction, is the space where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The goal of interaction between a human and a machine at the user interface is effective operation and control of the machine, and feedback from the...
with extensive feature hiding.
One of the key improvements is to allow users to be up and running in minutes. The administrator simply registers his/her school on the website along with a custom domain for the school. The software then automatically creates and publishes a fully functional school management system in real time. The admin can then proceed to 'invite' teachers and other faculty to test out the system. Another improvement involves a 'LiveFeed' feature that creates notifications when certain activities take place.
The essential paradigm shift
Paradigm shift
A Paradigm shift is, according to Thomas Kuhn in his influential book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions , a change in the basic assumptions, or paradigms, within the ruling theory of science...
achieved here is the way the software reformats to match to the user's requirements. Only the features required by a specific school are made available - making the software very easy to use. This makes the barriers to entry
Barriers to entry
In theories of competition in economics, barriers to entry are obstacles that make it difficult to enter a given market. The term can refer to hindrances a firm faces in trying to enter a market or industry - such as government regulation, or a large, established firm taking advantage of economies...
almost negligible. QuickSchool's long term goal is to create software that will require no technical support
Technical support
Technical support or tech support refers to a range of services by which enterprises provide assistance to users of technology products such as mobile phones, televisions, computers, software products or other electronic or mechanical goods...
and no training, and this release goes a long way to achieving this.
Manage School Applications
The system allows users to log details of inquiries from parents or guardians and keep track of their contact details. Student applications can also be maintained along with grades achieved during any entrance exams.Student Information Management
Details such as picture, subjects taken, classes attended, grades and extra-curricular activities can be tracked. Student grading can also be done for end of term reports and can be printed out in PDF.Parents Portal
Parents can track the progress of their children on a daily basis. This makes it very hard if the student wants to cut, is missing an assignment, or is just plain tardy. The computer is made to act like it is under the influence of meth, sending your parents e-mail a notification as soon as the teacher marks you late/absent. This new technology has ruined kids lives everywhere and will continue to make things worse for the students in the future years.Other Features
Schedules can be generated for students, teachers, subjects and classrooms. Flexible to the type of information that the school wants to track about students. Foreign language character support for Arabic & Chinese are currently available.Overview
As of late 2008, the primary method of delivering school management system was typical of enterprise application systems. The school management software would be installed on servers on-site at the school.As in most industries, the idea of using the software as a service
Software as a Service
Software as a service , sometimes referred to as "on-demand software," is a software delivery model in which software and its associated data are hosted centrally and are typically accessed by users using a thin client, normally using a web browser over the Internet.SaaS has become a common...
model for schools started garnering interest. A couple of early players emerged in this space, such as RenWeb
RenWeb
RenWeb is a school management system that provides a web interface for many common tasks done by schools. Features of the system include student information management, access to grades online, student attendance, and student scheduling....
and Teacherease.
QuickSchools.com made its debut in this space in mid-2008. QuickSchools.com offers its entire suite of solutions via a Web2.0 internet application. Schools subscribe to the application by paying a fixed per-student, per-month fee. In order to make this possible, trainings are provided online, and support is provided out of their Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia office.
Objections to the business model
Schools have some reservations about the QuickSchools.com model. The primary concern by many schools is the fact that the data is now stored in computers outside of their control. This is actually a common concern for any software vertical which makes the initial jump to the software as a service model. For example, in the CRM industry, there were many skeptics in the early days of SalesForce.com. Proponents of this model argue that the data is slightly safer than installing the software on-site as a dedicated, specialized team is responsible for the safe running of the system, which is often beyond the capabilities of individual companies or schools to manage.Technology
QuickSchools.com is based on Maestro's optimalOne platform. QuickSchools.com runs on a Java EE backend. The front-end runs on Adobe Flash (previously Macromedia Flash). The use of Flash enables QuickSchools.com to run on many different browsers and on different operating systems. It also enables the Web2.0-style interface.Servers are located in 2 locations around the world. The first location was established in Malaysia in January 2008, and the second location was established in Seattle, US in August 2008.