IRIS Project News Release
IRIS project update – Business Blueprint phase under way
The Integrated Resource Information Systems (IRIS) Project is making steady progress toward the implementation of software solutions that will replace the University of Kentucky’s present administrative computing systems (FRS, HRS, and SIS). During the past year a project team of functional and technical representatives from across campus came together to begin the process of implementing a new system. In March 2004, UK chose SAP as its software vendor for the IRIS Project and in July selected implementation partners or consultants to help. All of these efforts were considered part of Project Preparation, which concluded Aug. 6.
The IRIS Project Team contains several smaller teams devoted to specific parts of the project. Four functional teams are responsible for the major SAP modules to be implemented: Finance, Human Resources and Payroll, Campus Management, and Materials Management. Utilizing SAP’s accelerated implementation methodology (ASAP), these teams and others are working their way through phase two of the implementation, known as the Business Blueprint.
These questions and answers are designed to help the UK community learn more about the Business Blueprint and its purpose in the implementation process.
Q. What exactly does Business Blueprint mean?
A. Building an enterprise resource planning system like IRIS is much like building a new home. Both kinds of construction call for plans, blueprints, and lots of detailed information.
What business must the university carry out on IRIS? How is it being done now? And how will it be handled in the SAP software? The IRIS Project Team has been working to identify all of UK’s current requirements and processes for input into the plan or blueprint.
The final outcome of this phase of the IRIS Project will determine the system design and implementation schedule for each SAP module.
Q. What occurs during the blueprinting phase?
A. All of the functional teams (Finance, Human Resources and Payroll, Campus Management, and Materials Management) and campus representatives participate in several workshops and blueprinting sessions each week. Early blueprint workshops dealt with high level requirements, such as the organizational structure in each area. Current workshops focus on processes and details in each area. Team members also work together to complete lengthy questionnaires and templates necessary for the Business Blueprint.
Q. Who participates in the blueprint process?
A. IRIS staff members, employees from various UK departments, and implementation partners (consultants) with expertise in each functional area are working together each day to compile information for the Business Blueprint. Expert input from campus representatives is essential for the blueprint. Participation ranges from employees involved in academic and student service areas to those who work in UK’s physical plant to those who represent the interests of the hospital and clinical enterprise.
Implementation partners act as consultants to each of the teams. They have extensive knowledge and experience with SAP implementations and know how to generate the blueprint for the future with the information provided.
Simply put, this is a teaching-learning activity. UK employees are teaching the implementation partners about university business requirements and processes and at the same time are learning about SAP functionality and the built-in best business practices the software offers.
Q. What tools are used for Business Blueprint?
A. Fortunately for UK, ASAP methodology provides a wide range of tools for every stage of an implementation. Tools include an implementation assistant, which provides a structured framework for getting each project phase completed. The key tool for the blueprint is the Question and Answer database, which helps to generate the actual blueprint document.
Q. What are the outcomes of the Business Blueprint phase?
A. The outcome is the actual Business Blueprint document, scheduled for completion by Dec. 17. This document will outline the baseline scope for the IRIS Project, that is, provide the design plan for IRIS and establish the project schedule.
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Roxanne McLetchie, member of the finance team, works with Craig Sehannie, LSI consultant, to complete a template required for the Business Blueprint. |
The Integrated Resource Information Systems (IRIS) Project is making steady progress toward the implementation of software solutions that will replace the University of Kentucky’s present administrative computing systems (FRS, HRS, and SIS). During the past year a project team of functional and technical representatives from across campus came together to begin the process of implementing a new system. In March 2004, UK chose SAP as its software vendor for the IRIS Project and in July selected implementation partners or consultants to help. All of these efforts were considered part of Project Preparation, which concluded Aug. 6.
The IRIS Project Team contains several smaller teams devoted to specific parts of the project. Four functional teams are responsible for the major SAP modules to be implemented: Finance, Human Resources and Payroll, Campus Management, and Materials Management. Utilizing SAP’s accelerated implementation methodology (ASAP), these teams and others are working their way through phase two of the implementation, known as the Business Blueprint.
These questions and answers are designed to help the UK community learn more about the Business Blueprint and its purpose in the implementation process.
Q. What exactly does Business Blueprint mean?
A. Building an enterprise resource planning system like IRIS is much like building a new home. Both kinds of construction call for plans, blueprints, and lots of detailed information.
What business must the university carry out on IRIS? How is it being done now? And how will it be handled in the SAP software? The IRIS Project Team has been working to identify all of UK’s current requirements and processes for input into the plan or blueprint.
The final outcome of this phase of the IRIS Project will determine the system design and implementation schedule for each SAP module.
Q. What occurs during the blueprinting phase?
A. All of the functional teams (Finance, Human Resources and Payroll, Campus Management, and Materials Management) and campus representatives participate in several workshops and blueprinting sessions each week. Early blueprint workshops dealt with high level requirements, such as the organizational structure in each area. Current workshops focus on processes and details in each area. Team members also work together to complete lengthy questionnaires and templates necessary for the Business Blueprint.
Q. Who participates in the blueprint process?
A. IRIS staff members, employees from various UK departments, and implementation partners (consultants) with expertise in each functional area are working together each day to compile information for the Business Blueprint. Expert input from campus representatives is essential for the blueprint. Participation ranges from employees involved in academic and student service areas to those who work in UK’s physical plant to those who represent the interests of the hospital and clinical enterprise.
Implementation partners act as consultants to each of the teams. They have extensive knowledge and experience with SAP implementations and know how to generate the blueprint for the future with the information provided.
Simply put, this is a teaching-learning activity. UK employees are teaching the implementation partners about university business requirements and processes and at the same time are learning about SAP functionality and the built-in best business practices the software offers.
Q. What tools are used for Business Blueprint?
A. Fortunately for UK, ASAP methodology provides a wide range of tools for every stage of an implementation. Tools include an implementation assistant, which provides a structured framework for getting each project phase completed. The key tool for the blueprint is the Question and Answer database, which helps to generate the actual blueprint document.
Q. What are the outcomes of the Business Blueprint phase?
A. The outcome is the actual Business Blueprint document, scheduled for completion by Dec. 17. This document will outline the baseline scope for the IRIS Project, that is, provide the design plan for IRIS and establish the project schedule.
