PeopleSoft - PeopleTools Upgrade to ver 8.5 - all environments

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Summary:

One of the advantages of a vendor solution is the support vendor partners provide. PeopleTools is the proprietary toolset that Oracle uses and that ASU technologists use to build PeopleSoft applications. To be able to use the support structure of Oracle, the vendor for PeopleSoft, the applications must be at a supported level. This includes the technical underpinnigs of the application. Our current tools version is now several years old. This project will move ASU to the most recent tools release offered by Oracle. PeopleTools ver 8.5 is a pre-requisite for subsequent application upgrades planned for the upcoming year. Oracle states, "This new version of PeopleTools is the foundation to the PeopleSoft Enterprise 9.1 applications".

As well as improving ASU's support position, the PeopleTools Upgrade offers advantages immediately in the 8.9 environments.

Improved User Experience through new menu structures and type ahead features
A cleaner look with a more up to date style sheet
Improved Performance by using partial page refresh capabilities
Enhanced developer productivity supported by expanded tools features
Better security since the underlieing infrastructure is moved to more recent versions

ASU's hosting partner CMSC will play a key role in the upgrade. In a related project, CMSC will upgrade the database serving ASU's PeopleSoft Applications to 11g.

Start Date:

December 1, 2009

Go Live:

May 22, 2010

End Date:

June 20, 2009

Current Milestone:

12/15/2009 - Initial Project Plan and Resources Identified

Project Plan:

PeopleTools 8.5 Plan

Stage:

Proposed - Project Initiation/Intake Assessment

People

Sponsor/Champion:

Adrian Sannier, Vice President and University Technology Officer

Project Manager:

Katherine Ranes

Contact for more information:

Katherine.Ranes@asu.edu

Associate VP University Technology:

Max Davis-Johnson

University Technology Director:

Shawn Bryan

More Info

Source:

Internal

Department:

UTO

Priority:

High

Scope:

Upgrade all PeopleSoft Environments to PeopleTools 8.5

This includes HRSA (Human Resources/Student Administration - Campus Solutions), the EPM (Enterprise Performance Management), EP (Enterprise Portal) and CRM (Customer Relationship Management). All environments must be on the same tools release to work properly together and for ASU technical staff to be able to move easily from the development tools for one application to those used for another.

Adjust the customer interface to use the graphic capabilities available with the new tools release.

The new version of the PeopleSoft Tools utilizes a different style sheet and menu structure. ASU modifications and configurations of will be reviewed to make sure the pages presented to the system users are readable and function as intended.

Adjust training materials and job aids to reflect the new tool requirements and presentation style.

Since the changes to the PeopleSoft interface will not be transparent, revisions will be made to training materials. It is anticipated users will receive training/communication to ease the transition to the revised interface.

Test PeopleSoft functions and related interface methods to make sure functions are maintained.
Train technical staff in the capabilities of PeopleTools 8.5.
Confirm data transfer methods between transaction systems (HRSA, CRM) and the reporting platform (EPM).
Upgrade the database used to power PeopleSoft to Oracle 11G once tools are in place.

All Milestones and Schedule:

December 2009 – Exposure and Familiarity (build the demonstration environments, review release notes and begin technical training)

January 2010 – Planning with CMSC Confirmed (complete project plan and confirm CMSC planning for order of various environments)

February 2010 – Complete Strategy and Project Team (integrate Oracle upgrade into project plan, project testing needs and complete test plans, specify the integration tests and configuration needs, build IDP for CRM)

March 2010 – Technical and Functional Specification (Upgrade IDP for HRSA following U/F cycle, use IDP environment to specify retrofits needed to integration points, ASU enhancements and/or base-product, report errors to CMSC)

April 2010 – Complete Retrofits and Build Integration Testing Environment (apply changes to base product, prepare for development freeze by completing pending development, build test environments)

May 2010 – Test and Install in Production (complete acceptance testing and install in productin)

June 2010 – Lift Development freeze ( complete burn-in, problem resolution)

June 2010 – Upgrade database to 11g

Risk & Threats:

The HRSA upgrade schedule needs to apply regulatory changes to package Financial Aid. These changes and related updates and fixes need to be applied by the end of February. This activity will constrain the activities related to the Tools upgrade.

Development in PeopleSoft will require a freeze since once the testing cycle commences new features can only be added with extra attention to change control. Version control in these situations is essential and could result in redevelopment if not timed correctly.

The PeopleTools upgrade introduces risk into the Enterprise systems. To mitigate this risk, the upgrade has been planned during the semester break.

Links

Summary from Oracle on PeopleTools Benefits