Over the past couple of months, 24 implementation
teams have been formed within Johns Hopkins to work hand in
hand with the HopkinsOne project team to oversee the
transition to new software and procedures.
Begun in 2003, the HopkinsOne project will replace
many of Hopkins' business and financial systems with
updated procedures and integrated software called SAP.
Teams typically consist of five or six people for each
school, health care entity or other distinct Johns Hopkins
organization. About 130 team members are in place so far,
and HopkinsOne representatives have been meeting with them
for kick-off events at their respective locations.
"Implementation team members are the 'go-to' people
who will work with the HopkinsOne business transformation
team to address faculty and staff concerns," said Kevin
Kobylski, HopkinsOne project manager for business
transformation. "This is a way to tap Johns Hopkins'
inherent expertise and provide business continuity as we
make the shift to new business practices and integrated
software."
The implementation team concept was developed in
January. After Johns Hopkins' leadership approved the
concept, sponsors and senior executives assembled teams
that included project managers and team members to oversee
their organizations' HopkinsOne-related communications,
training, work force transition and business deployment,
the process of preparing each organization to incorporate
the new business processes that will support the system.
Implementation team members will communicate important
information about the project, work with the HopkinsOne
business transformation team to arrange training and,
ultimately, work with Human Resources to determine what
tasks people will do in the new system, Kobylski said.
"The people on this team have the directive to bring
to bear whatever resources they need to get the job done,"
Kobylski said. "In the end, it's their goal to make sure
that these changes are implemented and to do so without
disrupting [employees'] ability to conduct current
business."
The project is scheduled to "go live" in spring 2006
and conclude by 2008.
The "Who's Who" tab of the HopkinsOne Web page at
www.jhu.edu/hopkinsone contains a list of current
implementation team members.