1. ICS Windows NTEU Briefing June 24, 2011

2. History • ICS provides electronic case processing for all field revenue officers, managers and support staff. • ICS began piloting computer software applications in 1993 and was successfully deployed nationwide to SB/SE Collection employees between 1995 and 2000.

3. Background • ICS was written for the UNIX operating system. • The IRS standard for end-user computers is a uniform configuration of the Windows operating system called the Common Operating Environment (COE). • Although users access ICS using COE computers, ICS itself was not consistent with our COE architecture. • In order to allow ICS to operate within the COE environment, special software called POSIX was used.

4. ICS Windows Benefits Converting ICS from the UNIX environment to a Windows application: • Improved system performance by eliminating the POSIX software, which was very slow, • Improved ICS system navigation • Positioned ICS for future enhancements by allowing improved data sharing with other IRS applications, and • Standardized SB/SE Collection equipment needs with other IRS business units.

5. Improved Navigation • Eliminate text- and menu-based user interface, which was inefficient and cumbersome, • Implement a graphical user interface (GUI) that is consistent with standard Windows applications, • Enable the use of a mouse, trackball, or touchpad, • Allow users to work on more than one task at a time by opening multiple task windows, • Allow users to access multiple cases concurrently, and • Conform with other commonly used Windows software.

6. Pilot • September 29, 2008 to October 31, 2008 • Revenue Officer group 2600, Washington, DC • Two Revenue Officers from each Area • Two ICS/Entity Quality Analysts (IQA)

7. Training • Revenue Officers received 20 hours of classroom training • Managers received 24 hours of classroom training • IQAs received 24 hours of classroom training • Others received 4 hours online training