PeopleSoft Upgrade Insights: Fit/Gap (Part 2 of 3)
Many customers are now installing one or more of the new PeopleSoft 9.1 releases. Soon, Oracle will be releasing the upgrade scripts and, as the famous detective Sherlock Holmes would have likely said, “the game will be afoot” . PeopleSoft upgrade projects may be complex but they don’t necessarily have to be full of mystery and suspense. A little knowledge can go a long way.
This seems like a particularly good time to share some PeopleSoft Upgrade Insights starting with the subject of Fit/Gaps. Staying with the same body part metaphor I can say that getting your upgrade project “started on the right foot” is absolutely critical. And you can’t get it started right without executing a successful Fit/Gap. This is the second of three postings describing how you can obtain the maximum benefit out of your Fit/Gap process.
The room is set. The stakeholders have all taken their seats. The computers are booted. The logon ids and passwords have been entered. The projectors are working and the projected images are readable even in the back of the room. The lights are dimmed, but not too low because you don’t want anybody nodding off. You are all set. What do you do now?
- Start with why everybody is here- People like to know what the results are going to look like before they begin the process. A detailed list of issues will be produced. These issues may be gaps of various shapes & sizes, existing modifications to be reapplied, or new processes to be implemented. Solutions will be found for each item but not necessarily in the sessions. Some amount of research and analysis may be needed to determine the best solutions for particularly sticky issues.
- Set the ground rules- As much as some may like a free flowing stream of consciousness a saner approach will produce better results. So set some ground rules before starting:
- All participants must take ownership
- All participants must respect others thoughts
- All participants are expected to be candid
- All electronic devices (except possibly for pacemakers) must be turned off or to vibrate
- Time is limited. The goal is to find issues, not necessarily solutions.
- Follow your scripts- Fit/Gap (Part 1) described the step-by-step detailed scripts you will need to guide your sessions. Pass these scripts out. They will help your stakeholders follow along. Stick to your guides as much as possible. Update the scripts as you navigate indicating fits, gaps, or items needing further research. If an issue arises and you need to jump to a different part of the system feel free do so. Your script will allow you to return easily to the place where you left off.
- Make sure results get recorded- If it doesn’t get recorded it didn’t happen. Pick someone reliable to record any gaps or other issues that arise. And make sure that person is diligent. Get the “whip” out. Don’t be afraid to look over that person’s shoulder. Periodically, stop the proceedings for a minute to dictate an issue. Check the issue log at breaks. Have the person publish the issues at the end of the day.
- Answer questions- There are two types of questions. Those you know the answer to and those you don’t. What do you do if you are not sure of your answer? Often, I will you say, “Let’s go and take a quick look at how that works.” A participant asks a question about the difference between job profiles and job families. You can go that part of the system and check it out. However, if you have no idea what the person is asking and/or no idea what the answer should be then fall back on the fact that you, as everyone else, is just human. Do not make something up. Promise you will research the topic and return with an answer at a set time.
In Part 3 of this series, PeopleSoft Upgrade Insights, I will discuss how to transform the data from sessions into Fit/Gap results that will jumpstart the development phase of your upgrade project.
Comments
2 Responses to “PeopleSoft Upgrade Insights: Fit/Gap (Part 2 of 3)”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
[...] my last posting, PeopleSoft Upgrade Insights: Fit/Gap (Part 2 of 3), I talked about how to conduct your Fit/Gap sessions and gather information in an organized and [...]
[...] my last posting, PeopleSoft Upgrade Insights: Fit/Gap (Part 2 of 3), I talked about how to conduct your Fit/Gap sessions and gather information in an organized and [...]