Cabinet Corner is a periodic feature of LMU This Week where the university’s executive leaders share their perspectives with the community. The President’s Cabinet will provide updates on initiatives, policies, events, challenges, and areas of interest.
Lynne B. Scarboro, executive vice president and chief administrative officer, writes:
Dear Colleagues,
LMU is in the beginning phases of a multi-year project, Propel LMU, that will transform the way the university uses human capital management (HCM) and financial software to manage its personnel and financial assets. The existing software, Oracle E-Business Suite, was implemented in 1998-99 in a very different context than the university finds itself today. Additionally, Oracle is no longer investing resources in innovating the core technology and functionality of the E-Business Suite.
It is my intention that Human Resources, Finance, and Information Technology Services collaborate with the stakeholders of their departments to begin implementing in January 2020 a new solution that best positions us to support the bold initiatives that are pivotal to the university’s mission. While the new solution will replace all of the existing core HCM and finance functionality, we specifically expect to offer new or enhanced efficiencies to support the following processes:
- Research and grant administration
- Academic personnel management
- Employee self-service functionality
- Better workflow and approval routing of electronic forms to replace paper-based processes
- Purchasing
- Planning, budgeting and forecasting
- Analytics and reporting.
The first, key step in this process will be choosing the HCM and financial software solution and the systems-integration partner that will work with LMU to implement the selected solution.
In March, two committees were organized that will meet regularly during the coming years to ensure the successful completion of this project. The Executive Steering Committee, chaired by me, includes executive leaders from across campus, charged with providing essential guidance and support during the course of the project. The System Evaluation and Implementation Steering Committee, co-chaired by Vice President for Human Resources Rebecca Chandler and Vice President for Finance/Controller Aimee Uen, is comprised of a cross-sectional group of administrative and academic leaders, charged with ensuring that the chosen solution will support leading practices that simultaneously promote both a streamlined user experience and efficient backend processing.
LMU has also retained the services of an outside partner, Moran Technology Consulting, to work with these two committees on the process of selecting a software and systems implementer.
I am confident that Propel LMU will bring the university’s suite of HR and financial software systems to the level necessary to support LMU’s growing needs.
Sincerely,
Lynne B. Scarboro
Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer
