Project Scope

The Public Defender’s Office staff currently manage travel requests, expense forms, petty cash requests, and other administrative tasks through paper-based processes, which lack an efficient tracking system. This manual approach can lead to delays, errors, and limited accountability, making it difficult to oversee and manage requests effectively. By leveraging Microsoft Power Apps, we aim to create the Office's first-ever digital business system, providing a streamlined and user-friendly application that addresses these challenges.

Our Travel Request Application will simplify the steps involved in completing a travel request—including submission, review, and approval or denial—tailored specifically for the Los Angeles Public Defender’s Office. Requests will be routed to the appropriate parties, enabling quick and accurate processing. Additionally, the application maintains a comprehensive database of all submitted requests, allowing staff to track current and past records, ultimately enhancing accuracy, accountability, and speed across the Office.

This application will:

• Provide a verification page for login to confirm credentials
• Allow users to submit travel requests with details such as:
• Locations
• Expenses
• Dates
• Reason for travel
• Enable users to view past, pending, and settled requests
• Send the submitted requests to the appropriate parties for review

This application will not:

• Book flights, hotels, or other travel arrangements

Project Goals and Benefits

The goal of this application is to make travel requests easier for employees and management. Benefits include:

• Efficiency: Direct online submissions prevent paper filings from getting lost and delays in travel requests.
• Budget Management: Facilitates better tracking and management of the LAPD's travel budget.
• User Satisfaction: The application aims to alleviate frustrations with the current travel request system, providing a clear and easy-to-use interface.