PeopleSoft financial system training, support under way
PeopleSoft financial system training, support under way
Employees who will be using UD's new web-based PeopleSoft Financials information management system, slated to go online in July, have a valuable new tool for easing the transition.
The University's Financial Systems' (UDFS) communication team has formed a tiered support network to give users someone to turn to when they have problems with or suggestions about the new system. They also have developed a web site [www.udel. edu/UDFS/info/] to provide information to the campus.
Peggy Bottorff, assistant provost, heads the team. "We encourage people to look at the web site regularly to familiarize themselves with the status of the project and sources of information to help themmake the transition to PeopleSoft Financials," she said.
UDFS has identified 75-100 persons from units across the campus who use the existing financial data retrieval and analysis tools more intensively than most, and they will act as coaches, serving in the first tier of support. These coaches are being trained now by members of the communication team and others, and then will act as advisers and training resources to those in the process of learning the new system. When new users get stuck or want advice about a new application, there will be someone nearby who can look at the screen with them and offer assistance.
Members of the UDFS communication team will act as liaison between these coaches and others involved with implementation of the new system.
An ongoing series of courses in various aspects of the PeopleSoft system will be conducted this winter and spring. The first, "Readiness Training," began Feb. 3 and is being offered by members of the communication team.
Under the PeopleSoft system, "chart fields" replace the account codes that characterize and identify each financial transaction. The new web site has tables, called the "Chart of Accounts," specifying the values to be used for each chart field. The Chart of Accounts is explained in a PowerPoint presentation that can be downloaded from the UDFS web site.
The team will be adding content to the site, setting up training meetings and tools, and sharing information of relevance to users across campus.
Users are encouraged to direct specific questions and suggestions about training to their unit's communication team member. The list is at [www.udel.edu/UDFS/ info/help.shtml#comm].
To help users communicate with each other as the project moves ahead, an e-mail listserv with a monthly archive for users to share observations and tips has been created. Participants on the listserv can decide whether to receive each posting as it comes in or receive a daily digest of the messages of the day. The URL to subscribe, change subscription options or view the archives is [http://udel.edu/mailman/listinfo/udfs-tips].To post a message, send an e-mail to [udfs-tips@udel.edu].
PeopleSoft Financials is expected to provide more flexible and more powerful reporting capabilities, Bottorff said. Users will be able to fine-tune their reporting capabilities to a greater degree than has been possible with the current system which has been in place for 30 years. The conversion gives the University a chance to examine business practices and upgrade them. Converting to an all web environment makes the system more accessible and user friendly, she said.
BARBARA GARRISON
