An Application of Automation to Bankruptcy Administration and Processes

Demonstrates how functional procedures for straight-consumer and wage-earner bankruptcies can be improved through process changes and automation. The analysis determines the extent and degree to which electronic data processing can be used and recommends approaches to automation. For this analysis and cost-benefit comparison, the following data were examined: current functional flows for processing two types of bankruptcies; the existing automation experience and systems; the workload requirements for automating two categories of cases using two different processing models; and three different automation options. A development and implementation strategy is given for the preferred automation option which is a single batch-processing facility with centralized on-line data entry and input data prepared at the district office level. Estimated design and development time is 18 months to 2 years, with an additional 18 months to 2 years to implement at all district offices. (See also R-1315.)