For jojo636...., Enjoy.... For all other readers -
Health Warning read at your own peril.....
The item below may not be of much importance to you at this time..., felt that you could benefit from the information, if only to be aware of what is happening with the RAAF's current support issues and its resource/logistics planning visions for the future. Its a bit dry to say the least, but gives you a 'feel' for what is in the pipeline from the logistics and resource perspective. Always good to read up on the latest 'happenings' and be aware of where the defence money is being spent when attending interviews etc....! By the way...., this was released on the wires today 21 Feb 06.
It has been reported that THE Defence Department will upgrade its troubled human resources systems to run the latest version of PeopleSoft software in a project expected to cost more than $100 million.
The controversial upgrade of PMKeyS (personnel management key solution) has been approved by Cabinet.
Oracle has indicated it will continue supporting the PeopleSoft platform for five years, but Defence is understood to have chosen to upgrade rather than replace its existing systems.
The PMKeyS upgrade is one of three core defence projects worth a reported $335 million over the next several years, covering its human resources, accounting and supply chain platforms.
Defence technology contractors had been concerned that any delays in deciding the future of the PMKeyS systems could have delayed plans for full integration of the three systems.
Defence had already announced it would proceed with a Mincom upgrade of its standard defence supply system and would upgrade its Roman financial software through SAP.
The integration of the three core platforms is expected to create what Defence chief information officer Air Vice-Marshall John Monaghan is calling a virtual enterprise resource planning system.
Plans for the upgrade may be pushed back following the change of minister resulting from Rob Hills retirement announcement.
The final draft of a project to upgrade the SAP-based Romans financial management systems is awaiting approval from newly appointed Defence Minister Brendan Nelson.
Despite continuing problems with PMKeyS, the Defence Department said there would be "no complication" with the upgrade.
The original PMKeyS project ran two years late and almost $40 million over budget, and has been the subject of damning Australian National Audit Office reports.
It was also found to have incurred indirect costs of more than $90 million.
The National Audit Office found the system had struggled to account for more than $700 million worth of personnel leave. "Defence is upgrading the PeopleSoft product currently in use to version 8.9," a department spokesman said. "Oracle advises that it will be able to support the product past the end of the decade."
The spokesman said there were "no delay implications" for the departments plans to integrate its human resources, supply chain and accounting systems.
The redevelopment of the systems, to create a virtual enterprise resource planning system, is seen as the most immediate challenge facing Air Vice-Marshall Monaghan in pulling Defences foundering systems together.
