Petra is a computer-based information system, which is designed to help the administration of an international mission
group working in different countries with local offices.
The purpose of Petra is to provide a high quality information system, which will help a local office to keep control
of all its information. This is important because much of the information relates to people; if they are to be treated with
respect and integrity, then an office must be careful in keeping the data about them accurate and up-to-date.
![[Note]](../common/images/admon/note.png) |
Partners |
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In Petra, the word 'Partner' is used to describe anyone who is helping the organisation in working towards its goals. Partners include individuals who support the Organisation through gifts, churches, organisations who supply goods and services, members of staff, and internal units (sub-divisions of the Organisation). |
Petra is designed to reduce the burden of office administration and so free people's time in order that a local team can concentrate on fulfilling its main vision and aims. Petra can help:-
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by reducing time both to enter and retrieve information;
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by providing a standard way of handling financial accounting;
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by improving 'service to the customers' (i.e. the group's Partners);
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by increasing the information available for Donor Development;
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by making it easier to transfer information from one office to another.
Petra contains six different parts (or modules): Finance, Partner, Personnel, Financial Development, Conference Manager and System Manager. These are integrated with each other and allow the user to record and access information about Partners and perform such functions as managing accounts, mailing publications and managing personnel records for service, campaigns, etc.
Petra is intended to be easy to use. It is helpful if new users already have some experience of using a computer with a windows-type display and a mouse, but no additional knowledge should be necessary. It has been designed for use in offices worldwide, and a later version will allow use of any language script (both Roman and non-Roman).
Because of the different languages, ways of working, etc., Petra has been made very flexible. Many items can be changed
and adapted to local needs. However, many of the additional facilities are optional; a local office can start by using the
basic facilities and ignore the rest until they are needed. In some situations, Petra will assume a 'normal' or 'default'
value unless the user chooses a different one. Often the default value will be suitable and there is no need to change it.
Petra has been developed over a number of years following consultation with representatives from all Areas and disciplines
with the Organisation. As far as possible it has been made compatible with established ways of working using the existing
OMSS computer system, and OMSS data can be loaded into Petra.
Petra is being developed and upgraded continually, to add new features and fix bugs reported by users. The development team is dependent upon users feeding back comments on the program itself and on the User Guides, so that appropriate improvements can be made in the future.
