Accounting Information System (AIS) Replacement Project Update # 2
The intention of this message is to provide you with an update in regards to the AIS
Replacement Project.
Since the last update much work has been completed:
We are pleased to announce that PriceWaterhouseCooper (PwC) a globally recognized
firm in system integration has been hired to lead us through the implementation
process.
The Design and Planning (D&P) activity estimated to encompass three months, kicked
off on 1 April with both the technical and functional teams working in parallel.
On the functional side, the team members are:
Senior Review Board (SRB) Chair – CFO, Shirley Tang-Jassemi
Steering Committee Co-Chair – Director of Accounting, Michel Landry
Steering Committee Member – Director of Finance, Alain Doucet
Project Director – Senior Manager Finance Division Projects, Trevor Cloney
Functional Lead – National Accounting Manager, Rob Polem
Functional Expert – ABACIS Database Support and Security Manager, Tony Levesque
Functional Expert – National Accounts Payable Manager, Lisa Frye
AIS Support Specialist, ABACIS Database Support Specialist, Nicola Robinson
We have also included the Finance Management Accountants within our planning
sessions and utilized many other resources to date and no doubt will continue to do so
as the project unfolds.
On the technical side, the team members are:
Senior Review Board (SRB) Member – CIO, Bruce Pickard
Steering Committee Co-Chair – Director IM/IT Operations, Allen Iverson
Project Manager – Eric Castro
Technical Lead – System Administrator, Bret Craig-Browne
Technical Specialist – Senior Application Developer – Darryl Everett
Technical Specialist – Jason Lambert
Similar to the functional side, the technical side has been utilizing other IT members as
required.
PwC has brought a strong and dynamic team to the project with many years of
experience which has been crucial in helping us to understand exactly where and how
we can identify and implement efficiencies moving forward. Some of the many
deliverables to be provided from the D&P activity include:
 Functional architecture design including Organization Structure and chart of
accounts design
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Technical architecture design covering infrastructure, integration points,
technology components and instance plan
Data conversion specifications
List of functionality gaps and options/recommendations to address the
functionality gaps
Once the D&P is complete the next step is to move on to the implementation phase
where the new AIS will be configured to our exact specifications. Once the system is
configured significant effort will be undertaken with respect to testing and training to
ensure the system is working as expected and that our users know how to “work” the
system. The tentative go-live date remains as 1 April 2015.
I will end with a request to all Finance Staff. Although the name of the new AIS is Oracle
E Business Suite and Business Analytics we would like something a little more user
friendly. Naturally, given who we are I looked at the acronym first, however OEBSBA
was no better. Therefore I need your help! The name should be concise, easy to
remember and most of all fun and exciting. I know fun and exciting are somewhat
challenging when trying to name an Accounting Information System so in order to get
your creative juices flowing I have asked and received some items from our now good
friends at Oracle including:
2 Boxes of Callaway Hex Warbird Golf Balls with Oracle insignia.
2 Nike Golf Shorts with Oracle insignia
4 All Purpose Golf Smart Towels with Oracle insignia
This prize package will be given to the one employee who sends me the name that is
chosen to represent our new AIS. To that end please send any suggestions to myself by
June 27th, 2014.
*No purchase necessary, Winner will be announced, and all goods received
followed the S&D policy*
Once again I appreciate your support and I will continue to send updates as the project
unfolds.
Thanks
Trevor Cloney, CGA
Senior Manager Finance Division Projects