Oracle Business Intelligence (OBI) Tools Training and CAPS Dashboard Roll-out as part of the Modernization of Financial Reporting Implementation Project

August 14, 2014

What is the Modernization of Financial Reporting Implementation Project?
The Project Mission is to modernize Harvard University's financial reporting platform by implementing Oracle Business Intelligence (OBI).  Report content that currently exists in the CREW reporting platform under the financials, grants management, student financials, and public tabs of CREW will be made available in the OBI technology during a phased migration.  By replicating and migrating CREW functionality in the OBI platform, the finance community will immediately benefit from added features such as integrated charting, drill-down, and guided navigation.  Longer term, Harvard University has the potential to transform the University's data strategy so that local school investments can take better advantage of this enterprise reporting platform.    

The roll-out of the new dashboards will be phased by Subject Area with CAPS content going live by School/Tub in early Fall.

 What is OBI Tools Training?
OBI Tools Training is a one-hour, mandatory, hands-on session designed to introduce session participants to the core functionality of the OBI Tool through demonstrations and exercises using Chart of Accounts dashboards.  In addition, the session educates participants on the application deviations between CREW and OBI.  During the session, we will be using an OBI training environment where participants are able to interact with the OBI Tool through hands-on exercises.

Is training required in order to be granted access to OBI and CAPS Dashboards?

Yes.  OBI Tools Training is required and is a pre-requisite to being granted access to the OBI Production environment.  Please note: if you attended an OBI Student class in the Spring/Summer, you have satisfied the one-hour OBI Tools Training requirement.

How is access to OBI granted?
Your Authorized Requestor must have designated you as someone needing access to OBI and the applicable Subject Area (CAPS) for your Tub(s).  If you are unsure, please contact your Authorized Requestor to ensure you have been certified to have access to OBI.  **This must be done prior to enrolling in a mandatory OBI training session.

How will the Schools/Units be kept up-to-date about the project?
Each school/tub has identified a local implementation manager (LIM).  These LIMs are responsible for communicating information about OBI, addressing questions/concerns and serving as the point of escalation at the local level.   A list of LIMs is listed below.

What should you do in preparation for the CAPS OBI Dashboard Roll-out?
If you are a CAPS CREW user, you should enroll in one of the mandatory OBI Tools Training sessions by signing in to PeopleSoft Employee Self Service, which is accessed through HARVie at http://harvie.harvard.edu/

  1. Under the Main Menu (at the top left of the screen) select PeopleSoft 9.1 Self Service > Learning and Development >Request Training Enrollment
  2. At the Search screen, select Search by Course Number FSS170
  3. In the Course Name field, enter the course title Oracle BI – Tools (Course Category – CWD
  4. Click Search (the options for the course you searched appear)
  5. Click View Available Sessions for the searched course and select a session

How can I find out more information about the Modernization of Financial Reporting Implementation Project?
If you have questions concerning the OBI project, you should contact your Local Implementation Manager (listed below by tub) or view our Program wiki page at the following link: https://wiki.harvard.edu/confluence/display/OBIEEProject/Modernizing+Financial+Reporting+Program+Home

Tub

Local Implementation Manager

Business

Julie Raimo

Dental

James Mucci

Design 

Elizabeth Walat

Divinity 

Robert Carroll

Education

Jane Eaton/Evelyn Wong 

Faculty of Arts & Sciences

Katherine Gates

Kennedy School of Government

Nancy Guisinger 

Law 

Devin Advani  

Medical 

Cheryl O'Toole

Public Health

David White 

Radcliffe

Kristina Lynch

School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Scott Johnson/Matt Gruber

HUIT 

Alison Au, Deb Donovan

Campus Services 

Ken Knoblock

UHS

Natalie Hajdukiewicz

HUAM 

Evelyne Reyes

Allieds

Patricia Harrington (interim)/Elisabeth Pilcher/Alexander Antel

All other Central Administration

Kasie Mina/Christopher Soriano 

JCHS

Mary Lancaster

Wyss

Astrid King

See also: Live, OBIEE, August 2014