What
is an upgrade?
A standard system upgrade involves the movement
from the current version of the applications to the
latest available version at the time of the upgrade.
The upgrade to version 11i of the Oracle software, however,
goes beyond the standard upgrade. In addition to moving
to a different version of the applications, this upgrade
involves a new tool set used to build the applications
and support customizations and reports, and a new database.
There are new features in how the applications look,
in basic navigation, in how and where data is entered
and stored, and in how the applications integrate with
each other. 11i is a logical, evolutionary upgrade from
the 11.0.3 version of the Oracle applications currently
in use at U.Va. The new functionality and the improved
user interface of release 11i will provide users with
a more advanced tool to do their jobs.
What
is a technical upgrade?
A technical upgrade means scoping
the work required to get on the new technology platforms
and mirror the current environment as closely as possible.
Some new features come automatically with the technical
upgrade. This approach allows the institution to stabilize
the new configuration prior to evaluating and introducing
new functionality. It also allows the upgrade to proceed
with minimal disruption to the user community and minimal
retraining.
Why do we need to upgrade?
-
One of the main reasons the University deployed an
integrated system was to be able to take advantage
of periodic upgrades that allow it to stay current
with technology, functionality, and best business
practices. There are a number of improvements that
we anticipated with version 11i, most significantly
easier navigation.
-
Long-term opportunities to use major new functionality
-
Required for continued support from Oracle
Why
do we need to upgrade now?
-
As newer versions of the software become available,
it is more difficult to get adequate support from
Oracle.
-
Version 11i offered technology and functionality we
wanted with the initial implementation, but the software
was not yet mature. It is now sufficiently stabilized
to implement with minimal "bugs."
-
Version 11i will be required for the University to
implement more self-service and other new features.
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What
will the new release specifically offer me?
An overview of the new features that
come with the technical upgrade to release 11i can be
viewed on the New Features web site. Of greatest
impact on users will be:
For
everyone
- Personal
homepage
-
Web-like features
-
Better help and error messages
-
Cancellation of long-running queries
Purchasing
-
Automatic retry of Document Manager errors
-
Purchase order copying
-
Search forwarded documents based on document number
Grants Management
-
Drill down from award management to award budget forms
-
Installment closeout notification
Human Resources
- Mass
employee assignment update
-
Earnings policy button on assignment
- Find
and update a set of applicant assignments as a group
- Position
copy
- Mass
move to reorganize positions and the people assigned
to them
- Mass
position update
- Position
date tracking
- Organization
and position hierarchy diagramme
Labor Distribution
-
Summary of adjustments by batch name
-
Distribution adjustment by assignment
-
Standard reports for payroll encumbrances
-
Schedule lines sorted most recent on top
-
Pro-rata calculation of encumbrances
Fixed Assets
General Ledger
-
Drilldown to details in PO, AP, AR, Fixed Assets,
Inventory, and Grants Management
Intend to support MacIntosh support OS 10 and higher
(this may become a post-technical upgrade if it is deemed
too complex for the technical upgrade)
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How
will the Integrated System Deployment & Support
team help users prepare for the upgrade?
Making sure that users' concerns are addressed
and that users will be fully prepared for the new release
are primary goals of the ISDS team and central offices
during this upgrade. Many techniques will be employed
to ensure that these goals are met. They include:
- Members
of the user community who participate on the system
task forces will be consulted throughout the upgrade.
- An
11i web site will contain current information
on the
upgrade.
- Demos
and a User Fair will familiarize users with the
features
of the upgrade.
- Closer
to the May 3rd go live date, the Division
of Training will be offering short training classes
and other means of knowledge transfer to prepare
users for the upgrade.
- Special
sessions will be held to assist in converting
Discoverer
report.
- LSPs
are involved in evaluating users' desktop needs
and will assist in addressing them.
What
training will be required?
Training requirements have not yet been determined.
Everyone will want to receive navigation training, probably
a 2 hours session. We anticipate also offering high
level functional workshops by application, e.g. general
ledger, grants management, human resources, time management.
Where changes are more significant, e.g. labor distribution,
there will be more training required. There will be
a cutover time when 11.0.3 training will be offered
with 11i training. Then 11.0.3 training will cease.
Will
responsibilities change?
Responsibilities will remain the same, though some may
have more menu options.
Will
Discoverer still be our reporting tool?
Yes, we will still be using Discoverer for reports,
although we will be on a more current version. We will
move from version 3.1, which is not supported in the
11i environment, to version 4.1.
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Will
business processes remain the same?
It is anticipated that business processes will remain
essentially the same since, at this point, there will
be little change in functionality.
When
will Release 11i go into Production?
The
go-live for the upgrade is scheduled for May 3, 2004.
View the 11i
Upgrade Timeline web
site for milestones.
How
will current policies and procedures change in the new
release?
It
is not expected that current policies and procedures
will change dramatically in the new release. 11i is
a logical, evolutionary step forward from the current
release. Of course, as new functions are introduced
and current processes are streamlined in the new release,
revised or new policies may be required. More information
will be provided on any changes to policies and procedures
should they become necessary.
What
does the "i" stand for in 11i? And for that
matter, what does the 11 mean?
The
"i" in Oracle 11i stands for Internet enabled.
Oracle touts its product as, "...the only end-to-end
business application that runs entirely on the Internet,
supporting e-business across customer relationship management,
business-to-business, financials, projects, human resources,
and business intelligence functions."
As
for the "11," like many software companies,
Oracle uses a numbering scheme to denote the release
version of its products. When smaller changes are made
to a release, often a "HRD&T" release is made
- i.e. 11.0.3. When large changes to code are made in
the main releases, a "point" release is sometimes
added, i.e. 11.5. As smaller changes are made to this
release, HRD&Ts are added, e.g. 11.5.x.
The
newer 11i release that we are planning to upgrade to
is also known as 11.5. We are implementing version 11.5.9.
Eventually, we will likely go to a Release 12 of the
Oracle Applications.
Will
I need to do anything to get access to the new release?
The
upgrade to release 11i will not affect your current
access to the system. Your Username, Password, and
all Responsibilities will remain virtually the same
. There may be required training in some areas. This
has not yet been determined, but will be communicated
once a decision is made. A new j-Initiator will also
be required. Instructions will be provided, or your
LSP can assist you. |
