Enterprise
   Resource
      Planning

                                                                            
The Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Project is of great importance to the County. It is critical that we transform County business operations and incorporate best business practices appropriate for a large, modern organization. An ERP Steering Committee consisting of Department Heads has been formed.  It will guide the replacement of the County’s aging Financial (AFIN), Budget Preparation, and Payroll systems with one comprehensive, integrated system.

 In February 2007, the Board of Supervisors authorized the County Administrative Office to begin direct negotiations with CGI, the existing Financial System vendor. The goal is to replace our aging systems with CGI’s new ERP system, which is based upon modern technology and incorporates public sector best business practices into its design.  In April 2007, the Board of Supervisors approved:

 ® Seventeen (17) new permanent positions that will be utilized to backfill existing employees such that they can participate in the ERP project full-time.

® Seven (7) new permanent positions that will be used for the implementation project and post-production support.

 To allow the backfill employees time to be hired, trained, and to assume operational responsibilities, and to minimize the impact on ongoing operations, the ERP Steering Committee set the initial production (go-live) dates:

® Financial System - July 1, 2009

® HR / Payroll System - January 1, 2010

 These dates may seem far-off, but the ERP project is moving steadily forward: 

® Ed Munoz has been appointed as Project Manager.

® Backfill recruitment has begun.

® Project facilities have been identified and are in the negotiation phase.

® Change Manager recruitment has begun.

® An ERP Pre-implementation Assessment contract is being arranged with CGI.

The ERP Pre-implementation Assessment is a professional services contract that will further prepare the County from a technical and functional (business) perspective for the ERP Implementation Project.  It is anticipated that the technical assessment, which will involve only ITD, will begin around July 2007, and the functional assessment, which will involve service and program departments, will begin around September 2007.  The functional assessment will involve Financial and HR \ Payroll management and staff from service and program departments.  This up-front effort will help to reduce the risk and the cost of the ERP Implementation Project.  Both the County and CGI will gain an improved understanding of the implementation challenges and the requisite effort needed to meet our project goals and schedule.

 Written by Greg Head

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