NetResults ProblemTracker
The Help Desk Template

Overview

The Help Desk template supports a typical Help Desk environment in which issues or requests are reported by end users and the Help Desk team resolves the issues or processes requests.

Data Record

The data record contains the following fields. Note that you can customize the database by adding to or removing fields, or changing any pulldown menu values. Field names with an asterisk are required by the system and cannot be removed from the data record.
PRN* Numeric record identifier. Assigned at the time the record is created.
Title A one line text summary of the problem or request. Set at the time the record is created.
Product* Identifies the product for which the record has been reported. Set at the time the record is created.
Component Identifies the component for which the record has been reported. Values displayed in this field depend on the value selected for the Product field. Set at the time the record is created.
Platform Describes the hardware or software platform where the problem occurs. Examples are the operating system (e.g. Windows 2000). Set at the time the record is created.
Request Type Classifies the record. Some of the possible values are: Bug / Issue, Enhancement, Equipment Request, Feedback. Set at the time the record is created.
Severity Describes how serious the problem is. Set at the time the record is created.
Description Full description of the problem. Ideally describes the nature of the problem and how to reproduce the behavior. Set at the time the record is created.
Reported By* Name of the user that reported the record. Initially set to the name of the current user logged in. Set at the time the record is created.
Date Reported The date the record was created. Automatically initialized, and set at the time the record is created.
Workaround Describes how to work around the reported problem. Set at the time the record is created.
Pending Issues Describes what information or tasks are needed before a record can continue to be processed. Set by the Help Desk Engineer if issues arise that keep the record from being processed.
Status* Current state of the record. Changes as the record is processed through the workflow.
Assigned To* User the record is currently assigned to for processing. Set either manually or automatically during processing of the workflow.
Est. Close Date Date when the issue or request is expected to be resolved. Set by the Help Desk Engineer when deciding how to process the record.
Priority Describes the relative importance of handling this record compared to other records entered in the system.
Close Date Date when the record was closed. Set by Help Desk when issue or request has been resolved. Automatically initialized to the current date/time.
Close Detail Describes the details about how the issue or request was resolved. Set by the Help Desk when the issue or request has been resolved.
Deleted* Denotes whether the record has been deleted.

Dependent Pulldowns

The pulldown field Component is dependent on the pulldown field called Product, allowing the Component field to only display those values that correspond to the Product selected. The examples below illustrate the purpose of Dependent Pulldowns.

Example 1
When "Hardware" is selected in the Product field, the Component field displays the following option menu items:

Computer
Modem
Monitor
Other
Printer

Example 2
When "Software" is selected for the Product field, the Component field displays the following option menu items:

Our Browser
Our Database
Our Email
Other

Details on setting up dependencies between pulldown fields can be found in the Customizing Pulldown Dependencies section of the Admin Guide.

Workflow

It is assumed that records will be processed and moved through the workflow process by using the Task operation. The workflow implemented by the Help Desk template is as follows:

  1. State 1 - Reported
    It is assumed that each Help Desk Engineer is assigned to a particular product or area of expertise. When a record is created, it is set to the state Reported, and assigned to a particular Help Desk Engineer based on the Product selected in the record. Each Help Desk Engineer reviews the incoming records and decides how to process each using a list of possible workflow paths. The Help Desk Engineer can choose one of the following:
    • Begin processing a record by selecting the transition called Start Processing Request. The Description field is presented for the Help Desk Engineer's reference. The Help Desk Engineer must enter an Estimated Close Date and can optionally set the Priority of the request. This transition will keep the record assigned to the Help Desk Engineer and place the record in the In Process state.
    • Close the record by selecting the transition called Close. The Description field is presented for the Help Desk Engineer's reference. This transition will place the record in the Closed state and assign it to TBD ("no one" since this record will not be processed any further). The Help Desk Engineer will be required to enter a reason the record was closed in the Close Detail field. The Close Date will be updated automatically.
    • Delay processing of the request by selecting the Hold Request transition. The Description field is presented for the Help Desk Engineer's reference. The Help Desk Engineer is required to enter a reason for the delay in the Pending Issues field and an Estimated Close Date. It is optional to set the Priority for the record. This transition will place the record in the On Hold state, but will still be assigned to the Help Desk Engineer.

    This is implemented by:

    Workflow Properties

    • Defining Reported as the Default Add State when a record is added
    • Assigning a Help Desk Engineer as the manager for the Reported and On Hold states for each Product e.g. Help Desk Engineer One (help_one) is the manager for the Reported and On Hold states for the Hardware Product

    Transitions

    • Defining a transition to move a record to the In Process and On Hold states where the assignee is <Same Assignee>.
    • Defining transitions to move a record to the Closed state where the assignee is TBD.

    Task Fields

    • Configuring Description (read only), Est. Close Date (required) and Priority (optional) to be presented during the task operation for the transition to the In Process state.
    • Configuring Description (read only), Close Detail (required) and Close Date (read only and initialized) to be presented during the task operation for the transition to the Closed state.
    • Configuring Description (read only), Pending Issues (required), Est. Close Date (required) and Priority (optional) to be presented during the task operation for the transition to the On Hold state.

  2. State 2 - In Process
    The Help Desk Engineer assigned to the record attempts to resolve the issue or request, then chooses one of the following transitions:
    • If the issue is resolved, the Help Desk Engineer can close the issue by selecting the transition Close. The Description field is presented for the Help Desk Engineer's reference. This transition will place the record in the Closed state and assign it to TBD ("no one" since this record will not be processed any further). The Help Desk Engineer will be required to enter a reason the record was closed in the Close Detail field. The Close Date will be updated automatically.

    • If the issue has not been resolved and the Help Desk Engineer needs to escalate the issue to a manager for troubleshooting assistance, the Escalate transition will be selected. The Description field is presented for the Help Desk Engineer's reference. The Help Desk Engineer is required to enter the reason for the escalation in the Pending Comments field. This will place the record in the Escalated state and will assign it to the Help Desk Manager.

    • If the issue cannot be processed until a later (e.g. because more information is needed or there is a delay to receive equipment needed to resolve the issue), the Help Desk Engineer can select the Hold Request transition. The Description field is presented for the Help Desk Engineer's reference. The Help Desk Engineer is required to enter a reason for the delay in the Pending Issues field and an Estimated Close Date. It is optional to set the Priority for the record. This transition will place the record in the On Hold state, but will still be assigned to the Help Desk Engineer.

    This is implemented by:

    Workflow Properties

    • Defining Help Desk Manager (help_mgr) as the manager for the Escalated state

    Transitions

    • Defining a transition to move a record to the Closed state where the assignee is TBD.
    • Defining a transition to move a record to the On Hold state where the assignee is <Same Assignee>.
    • Defining a transition to move a record to the Escalated state where the assignee is the manager of that state

    Task Fields

    • Configuring Description (read only), Close Detail (required) and Close Date (read only and initialized) to be presented during the task operation for the transition to the Closed state.
    • Configuring Description (read only), Pending Issues (required), Est. Close Date (required) and Priority (optional) to be presented during the task operation for the transition to the On Hold state.
    • Configuring Description (read only) and Pending Issues (required) to be presented during the task operation for the transition to the Escalated state.

  3. State 3 - Escalated
    The Help Desk Manager (help_mgr) decides how to proceed with the issue:

    • The issue can be sent back to the Help Desk Engineer by using the De-escalate transition. The Description field will be provided for help_mgr's reference. Comments to aid the Help Desk Engineer to resolve the issue must be entered into the Pending Issues field. Optionally, the Priority of the record can be updated. This will place the record back into the In Process state and assign it to the Help Desk Engineer who worked on the record when it was previously in that state.
    • The issue can be closed by using the Close transition. The Description field is presented for reference purposes. This transition will place the record in the Closed state and assign it to TBD ("no one" since this record will not be processed any further). help_mgr will be required to enter a reason the record was closed in the Close Detail field. The Close Date will be updated automatically.

    This is implemented by:

    Transitions

    • Defining a transition to move a record to the In Process state where the assignee is <Last Assignee for New State>
    • Defining a transition to move a record to the Closed state where the assignee is TBD

    Task Fields

    • Configuring the Description (read only), Pending Issues (required), Priority (optional) to be presented during the Task operation for the transition to the In Process state.
    • Configuring the Description (read only), Close Date (read only, initialized), and Close Detail (required) fields to be presented for the transition to the Closed state.

  4. State 5 - On Hold
    Processing was stopped for the records in this state. The Help Desk Engineer can resume processing of a record using the Resume Processing transition. The Description field will be provided for reference purposes and the Help Desk Engineer will have the option to update the Estimated Close Date and Priority fields. This will place the record in the In Process state and will remain assigned to the Help Desk Engineer. The Help Desk Engineer can close the issue by using the Close transition. The Description field is presented for reference purposes. This transition will place the record in the Closed state and assign it to TBD ("no one" since this record will not be processed any further). The Help Desk Engineer will be required to enter a reason the record was closed in the Close Detail field. The Close Date will be updated automatically.

    This is implemented by:

    Transitions

    • Defining a transition to move a record to the In Process state with New Assignee set to <Same Assignee>
    • Defining a transition to move a record to the Closed state and assigned to TBD

    Task Fields

    • Configuring the Description (read only), Est. Close Date (optional), Priority (optional) to be presented during the Task operation for the transition to the In Process state.
    • Configuring the Description (read only), Close Date (read only, initialized), and Close Detail (required) fields to be presented for the transition to the Closed state.

  5. State 6 - Closed
    Processing on these records has been completed.

Sample Saved Charts

A set of sample saved charts are included in this template. Click here to see details of these sample metrics.

Email Notification

The Help Desk template is set up to notify users as follows:

On Add or Delete of a Record
The current assignee, the manager for the current state, and the reporter of the record are notified

On Change of State to Inactive
The user who reported the record is notified when a record is moved to a state where processing has stopped (any state included in the Inactive state group: Closed or On Hold)

On Change of Assignment
Both the current assignee and the manager of the current state of the record are notified

Security

The Help Desk template assumes a very simple security model reflecting a workgroup situation where all users are able to see any record. This is implemented by setting Enable Record Visibility option under General Preferences in the Administration Task page to No.

In addition, the privileges related to editing the field of the records have been removed from users that are not managers or Admin. With this configuration, users can rely on the Task operation to move records through the workflow. This can be changed within the User Administration section of the Admin page.