OracleAppsBlog

A day in the life of an Oracle Applications Consultant

Presentations

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Connecticut State Governments integrated Financial, HR and Payroll System

I came across the Core CT site today and found it to be a site with a wealth of information relating to systems implementation.

According to the site:

Core-CT is the system that has replaced Connecticut state government’s core financial and administrative computer systems including central and agency accounting, accounts payable, payroll, time and attendance, worker’s compensation, personnel, and other legacy systems. For years before Core-CT was implemented, these systems were plagued by poor integration, redundant data entry, and time-wasting reconciliation. They were written in a number of different languages, resided on many platforms, and included numerous databases. This older technology was not adaptable to workflow and e-commerce.

The state’s central administrative agencies - the Office of the State Comptroller, the Departments of Administrative Services and Information Technology, and the Office of Policy and Management - banded together to undertake the transition to a new, integrated system encompassing virtually all major administrative functions and all executive-branch state agencies. The system uses enterprise resource planning (ERP) software to tie together all functions, using an integrated suite of software applications, a common database, and a unified technical architecture.

The Core-CT fact sheet outlines what modules and systems were implemented as follows:

Core-CT is Connecticut state government’s central financial and administrative computer system. Using PeopleSoft’s ERP suite, the system encompasses central and agency accounting functions, including modules for general ledger, purchasing, accounts payable, accounts receivable, billing, assets, and inventory, with projects and contracts scheduled to be implemented in 2006; as well as PeopleSoft’s Human Resource Management System, with modules for payroll, time and labor, human resources, and benefits. Core-CT covers all these functions for executive branch agencies, and some of its functions are also used by the Judicial Branch, the General Assembly, and state institutions of higher education. In addition, Core-CT uses PeopleSoft’s EPM ad-hoc reporting function to allow queries on its vast database.

Currently, the system uses PeopleSoft Financials version 8.4 but will be upgrading to version 8.8 around July 2006; HRMS uses PeopleSoft version 8.3 and will be upgrading to 8.9 around May 2006. Some 7,600 state workers use Core-CT. They pay the state’s bills in a $15.3 billion annual budget (fiscal year 2006), including the payroll for all state employees.

Launched in 2003, Core-CT is based at the Department of Information Technology’s East Hartford, CT office; it is managed jointly by the Office of the State Comptroller, the Department of Administrative Services, and DOIT; these agencies hold the statutory authority for the system’s functions.  Approximately 150 people work in the development and maintenance of Core-CT.

Other interesting areas of the site include the Presentation Library, Document Library and Chart of Accounts Documentation. I also thought the catalog of online financial reports provides a good example of how reports should be documented.

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Download Oracle OpenWorld San Francisco presentations

Although I’m not physically present at Oracle OpenWorld San Francisco it’s nice to be able to follow what’s happening through OpenWorld online where you can view keynotes, sessions, online demos, webcams and the photo gallery. The blog center also provides some interesting analysis and commentary.

I’ve noticed a couple of people linking to presentations and was frustrated that I couldn’t access them as a username and password was required. Little did I realise that there is a publicly available username and password.

Featured Applications Tracks at OpenWorld this year are:

• Applications Strategy
• Applications Technology
• Corporate Performance Management
• Customer Data Management
• Financials
• Fulfillment
• Human Resources
• Maintenance
• Manufacturing
• PIM Data Hub and PLM
• Procurement
• Projects
• Sales and Marketing
• Service
• Supply Chain Planning

The Content catalog has a comprehensive listing of presentations that you can download. Use the following username and password:

username: cboracle
password: oraclec6

You should also check out the Oracle OpenWorld archives where you can download presentations from previous events.

There’s really enough presentations to keep you busy until OpenWorld 2006. I’m going to try and come up with a listing of the best ones I come across.

Monday, August 01, 2005

Oracle 11i Installation, Architecture, Administration and Maintenance

Recently I was asked by a reader whether I could provide them with a diagram of the architecture of 11i10. Here’s some excellent presentations you can download and take a look at if you want to understand more about the architecture of Oracle Applications E-Business Suite (EBS) R11i.

I’ve always been impressed by the quality and content of information produced in presentations delivered by SolutionBeacon. One of the first presentations I came across that provided a very good look under the hood of 11i was one entitled “Care and Feeding of 11i” by John Stouffer.

The most recent versions of these presentations that I could find were delivered by Randy Giefer at the NorCal OAUG 2005 Training Day. I’ve linked to the presentations and also quoted their abstracts below. You should also check out the NorCalOAUG Presentations Archive where there are many other useful presentations you can download.

Introduction to Release 11i Part 1 of 2: Installation & Architecture

Abstract

In the 1st of a 2 part presentation, get a “real world” perspective as well as tips and techniques to install and understand the architecture of the complex Oracle Applications environment delivered with Release 11i, including Release 11.5.10. Release 11i is the biggest and most complex applications release ever! There have been ten 11i releases with major changes to tools and technology stack. Each release addresses bug fixes and has added new module functionality along with three specific Oracle environments that must be installed for Release 11i – database, applications and web. All environments require differing levels of support but each has to be maintained to fully utilize and make the most of the Release 11i Applications. We will discuss the underlying architectures and approaches to architecture and installation that make ongoing support more manageable for the Apps DBA.

Introduction to Release 11i Part 2 of 2: Administration & Maintenance

Abstract

In the 2nd of a 2 part presentation, get a “real world” perspective as well as tips and techniques to administer and maintain the complex Oracle Applications environment delivered with Release 11i, including Release 11.5.10. Release 11i is the biggest and most complex applications release ever! There have been ten 11i releases with major changes to tools and technology stack. Each release addresses bug fixes and has added new module functionality along with three specific Oracle environments that must be supported for Release 11i – database, applications and web. Administering and maintaining these environments has become a full time job for the Applications DBA. All environments require differing levels of support but each has to be maintained to fully utilize and make the most of the Release 11i applications. We will discuss all of these administration and maintenance processes for the Apps DBA and will share “real world” recommendations for each.

Wednesday, June 22, 2005

UKOUG Conference Presentations - Oracle Tutor and 11.5.10

I’ve been accepted to present two papers at the upcoming UKOUG conference being held from the 31st of October - 2nd November 2005. Details are as follows: -

My first presentation is entitled Maximise your Return on Implementation Investment with Oracle Tutor
Date: Monday 31 October 2005
Time: 17:20 for 45 minutes
Topic: General - Applications
Stream: Oracle Applications

Abstract

The corporate functions of any business consist of Commerce, Knowledge Management and Business Operations. This presentation will identify how implementing Oracle Tutor adds value to each of the functions mentioned, hence increasing the Return on Investment for your implementation.

Firstly, the standard Tutor procedure documents and business forms will be analysed and discussed. Secondly, the ability to customise procedure documentation and to create personalised training material will be shown. Lastly, the use of the Authoring tool to create customised help will be discussed and demonstrated. At each stage of the analysis the presenter will highlight new functionality that has been introduced to the product as well as provide advice based on implementation experiences.

I’ve got a particularly good slot for my second presentation which is entitled Oracle Financials 11.5.10 - new features and upgrade considerations

Date: Tuesday 1 November 2005
Time: 9:00 for 60 minutes
Topic: Oracle Financials
Stream: Oracle Applications

Abstract

This presentation will discuss new features released in Oracle Financials 11.5.10. The modules under discussion will be Payables, Receivables, Cash Management, Fixed Assets, General Ledger, Internet Expenses and Property Manager. The presenter will provide a high level overview of the new features and then discuss the various considerations organisations should make when upgrading to this new release.

Hope to meet you there!!

Wednesday, January 05, 2005

Oracle OpenWorld Amsterdam Presentations available for download

OpenWorld Amsterdam took place some time ago (September 2004) but I never pointed out on this blog where you can download the presentations from so here goes.

You can obtain a listing of the presentations and associated abstracts here or go straight to the downloads page. There are some really good ppt’s here for anyone with a functional or technical interest in Oracle Products and Software.

Since I’m more functionally oriented a selection of the ones I found quite interesting are: -

• Managing Corporate Performance: Dream or Reality? - John Schoenherr, VP – Analytic Solutions, Oracle Corporation (2.36MB)
• Gaining Value from Business Intelligence: Integrating the Customer Data Hub with Your Data Warehouse - Nick Whitehead, Solution Sales - EMEA BI & Data Warehouse, Oracle Corporation (818KB)
• Oracle Daily Business Intelligence Architecture - Jeffrey Kirk, Product Director - Apps Development, Oracle Corporation (2.62MB)
• The many challenges of integration: processes, data, applications and platforms - Massimo Pezzini, Oracle Corporation (717KB)
• Content Management for the Rest of Us - Rich Buchheim, Senior Director - Product Management and ECM Strategy, Oracle Corporation (4.30MB)
• Real Time Collaboration in the Enterprise - Anindo Roy, Director - S/W Development, Oracle Real Time Collaboration Group, Oracle Corporation (3.70MB)
• Location Technology and Applications with Oracle 10G - Euro Beinat, Geodan Mobile Solutions (1.38MB)
• Increasing Control: Centrally Managing Statutory Requirements and Corporate Policy Compliance - Francis Veldeman and Olivier Arthus, Oracle EMEA (688KB)
• Oracle Customer Service: Information Driven Service - Stephen Slade, HQ Product Director – CRM Service and Wilfred Sholman, EMEA Principal Consultant, Oracle Corporation (3.60MB)
• General Ledger: Improve the Transparency and Auditability of your Corporation - Gerard Verton and Ad de Kievit, Deloitte (965KB)
• Link Planning to Execution with Oracle Enterprise Planning and Budgeting - John Schoenherr, VP – Analytic Solutions and Dirk de Ridder, Principle Sales Consultant, Oracle EMEA (373KB)
• Revenue and Receivables Management: ‘How to keep your boat?’ - Arno van der Weijden, Atos Origin (2.47MB)
• RFID, Mobile and the Brave New World of Sensor based Computing - Simon Pollard, VP - EMEA Industrial Sector, RFID & Sensor Based Services and Edwin W. Kalischnig, Director - Business Development, RFID & Sensor Based Services, Oracle Corporation
• Efficiency, Customer Service and Lean Agility with Oracle Discrete Manufacturing - Nick Arrowsmith, EMEA Supply Chain, Oracle Corporation
• Advanced Procurement: Development Update on Oracle’s SRM Offering - David Hope-Ross, Senior Director - Procurement Applications, Oracle Corporation.
• Unbundling Billing Complexity: Enabling a Convergent Process Architecture for Telecoms - Marc T. Stolte, Director - Telecoms, Oracle EMEA
• Support Complex Business Models with Adaptive Order Fulfillment - Drew Campbell, Vice President - Order Fulfillment Products, Oracle Corporation