The Pilot Test Blasts Off!

FHRIS Project Status

The pilot testing of the SAP R/3 Human Resources software began, on schedule, August 21, 2000. From August 7 to August 17, thirty-nine DOI employees were trained during four, two-day courses covering the basic functionality being tested during the pilot. The testers, from all bureaus, were given access to the system on August 21st and some immediately began to put their new skills to use. Testing will continue until September 21, 2000, the official end of the pilot project.

Who are the Testers?

The pilot testers come from across the Department and possess a wide variety of experience. The most impressive attribute of the group is their willingness to help the Department and the future of their bureaus by taking on this extra assignment. To participate, each tester had to take a two day training course that tried to cover about over two weeks worth of material! It wasn't easy. SAP R/3 Human Resources is like any other new, complex computer program. It has many new icons and menu paths. But each tester stuck with it and by the end of the two days became familiar with (although certainly not experts at) the software. During the test the testers will try to reproduce all the actions they were taught in class. The results of their actions will be recorded on evaluation forms that will be used to help us make the final decision on moving into full deployment of the system. We wish to commend the testers for their willingness to participate in our efforts to improve human resources management across the department.
 

Here's a list of the pilot testers:

Bureau of Indian Affairs
Edith Benson - Albuquerque, NM

Bureau of Land Management
Concetta Stewart - Washington, DC
Dahlena Johnson - Washington, DC
Jackie Little - Washington, DC
Valerie Tuner - Washington, DC
Johnney Toney - Denver, CO
Mary LaBate - Denver, CO
Keith Arnold - Sacramento, CA
Marlene Thomas - Sacramento, CA

Bureau of Reclamation
Anna Lovato - Denver, CO
Charlie Garcia - Denver, CO
Ernie Banenzuela - Denver, CO
Gavin Weekley - Denver, CO
Pam Fair - Denver, CO
Rich Ortiz - Denver, CO
Susan Madrid - Denver, CO

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Juanita Knutson - Washington, DC
Ed Dinep - Arlington, VA
Joeanna Headen - Arlington, VA
Alicia Mullins - Shepardstown, WV
Pat Houghton - Shepardstown, WV
Karin Christensen - Shepardstown, WV

Minerals Management Service
Beth Orman - Herndon, VA
Carl Craft - Herndon, VA
Donna Brannon - Herndon, VA

National Business Center
Melody Jameson - Denver, CO
Patricia Garcia - Denver, CO
Pat Rogers - Washington, DC
Virginia Moore - Washington, DC

National Park Service
Adele Singer - Washington, DC
Robin Urkums - Washington, DC
Debra Cox - Harpers Ferry, WV
Joyce Howe - Harpers Ferry, WV

Office of Surface Mining
Allison Beard - Washington, DC
Kathy Haggerty - Washington, DC

U.S. Geological Survey
Jo Ann Dack - Denver, CO
Gary Blackburn - Reston, VA

While not officially a part of our pilot test, the Department's largest FPPS customer (Social Security Administration) has also been interested in our project. SSA had the following individuals trained on the pilot functionality.

Ken Hart - Baltimore, MD
Ron Harris - Baltimore, MD
Carole Fortney - Baltimore, MD

In addition to evaluating the test, the testers will also being helping identify areas where the existing SAP R/3 Human Resources software must be reconfigured and/or federalized for full-implementation, should we decide to do so. While our pilot test was designed to show the software and SAP approach works, the software is not configured the way it would have to be for full implementation. The fact is the SAP software is very flexible and can be configured in any number of ways. The project team decided on one specific way to prove its capabilities. Full implementation will require all the bureaus and offices to work together to establish the final, actual way it would have to be configured. Tester input will be invaluable to this eventual workgroup, should implementation move forward..

Technical Thanks

The FHRIS Pilot Project Team would like to express their appreciation to the NBC, ADP Services Division staff for the high degree of technical support provided in assisting and responding to a variety of technical questions and issues. The ADP staff was extremely instrumental in the establishment and maintenance of the SAP system architecture utilized during the pilot. Their efforts and responsiveness greatly contributed to the success of the pilot.
 

What's Next

While the pilot test is complete as of September 21, 2000, the work of the project is far from over. Concurrently with conducting the pilot test, the Department has contracted with Booz-Allen & Hamilton, Inc. to develop a "business case" for full implementation of the SAP R/3 Human Resources software department-wide. While a decision to implement department-wide has not been reached yet, a major part of such a decision would obviously be based upon costs. Booz-Allen & Hamilton are identifying and validating all the costs, time schedules and return-on-investment associated with full implementation. We hope to be able to present the results of the pilot test and the business case for full implementation to our Senior Leaders sometime during October 2000. If the pilot test is a success (and we are confident it will be) and the business case shows that it is a good investment, we could move toward beginning full-scale implementation during FY2001. If full-scale implementation is approved, another project team will be put together and a number of permanent positions will be established to handle the configuration and maintenance of the eventual system. As indicated above, the product will have to be completely reconfigured according to bureau/office requirements. We expect that full implementation (department-wide) would take at least two or three years.

Have a question or suggestion for the project team? Please do not hesitate to contact us at:

U.S. Department of the Interior
Interior South Building
FHRIS Project
Room 355 - MS 326
1951 Constitution Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20240-0001
Phone (202) 219-0624
Fax: (202) 208-6512
dave_anderson@os.doi.gov

Visit our web-site at: http://www.doi.gov/hrm/fhris/page1.htm