Oracle technology was originally developed to serve U.S. federal government agencies, which routinely face demanding operational requirements. Recently, a cabinet-level government agency determined that its 20-year-old legacy financial system was nearing the end of its life cycle. To upgrade, CSC was chosen to assist in managing a phased implementation of Oracle applications and technologies.
For an agency with an annual operating budget in excess of $50 billion, operating efficiency was essential -- but also impossible unless the agency could standardize its financial mangement functions across the different administrations. Also at this time, new legislation required a higher degree of financial accountability for federal agencies. Business Challenge The agency determined to implement a system capable of becoming a single source for agency-wide corporate financial data used in reports required by other federal agencies. This involved migrating information from legacy systems and creating new data models to fulfill reporting requirements and standards. Solutions Delivered CSC assumed the role of systems integrator in the program management office (PMO), providing systems integration and program support throughout the project life cycle.
The implementation required extensive involvement from the user community, which included the financial management directors and staff from numerous operating administrations. CSC employed the Oracle Application Implemenation Method (AIM) for application set-up and configuration, in combination with CSC Catalyst methodology.
Oracle's web-enabled Financial Applications Release 11 with Federal version 3.3 was implemented in a multi-organization, multi-set of books environment. The first project phase included the completion of the agency-wide global design and implemenation at the first operating administration. Ultimately, more than 2,000 agency employees will use the Oracle Financial Applications. Success Story The implementation at the first operating administration was completed successfully, laying the foundation for future successes as the remaining entities are implemented. The agency is looking forward to building upon its success by initiating projects that take advantage of the leading edge solution they have put into place.
E-commerce initiatives underway include the Oracle iStore, a system that creates, manages and personalizes Internet-based storefronts, and Oracle Web Expenses, a document imaging system. Other future projects in the works including iProcurement, a Web-based travel system, and an upgrade to Oracle Applications Release 11i.