GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION (GFOA) 1B-2008

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applied to any future process changes. GFOA consultants would be working with the Project Managers to achieve this process. 5. Interface/Customization Identification Assistance. Although GFOA strives to ensure most interfaces be identified before the contract signing, it is almost inevitable that a few customizations or interfaces will be required during implementation. As part of the contract negotiations process, GFOA documented a process for identifying, assessing, and implementing unidentified interfaces and customizations that may be required. This process was included in the implementation services contract or the statement of work. As part of our project advisory services, GFOA consultants will rely on this process to assess any customizations and new interfaces. Our task in this process would assist your Project Managers with determining whether or not an interface or customization is warranted; assist your Project Managers in ensuring that the proper procedures are being followed (e.g., update business designs; develop/review functional and technical specifications, update test scripts, and user acceptance). 6. Testing and Training Support. Lawson should provide a testing and training strategy as part of their overall implementation methodology. GFOA consultants, if needed, will assist the implementer and City project managers in assessing the testing plans (e.g., unit, integration, user acceptance, etc.), test scripts and required resources to complete testing within the required timeframes. GFOA consultants will also assist the project managers in assessing the "Super User" training and end-user training strategies. As part of this assessment, GFOA consultants will assist in the review of training documents and will work with project managers to identify which personnel should attend the different types of training classes. 7. Issue Resolution. As a major source of recommended practices in governmental accounting and budgeting, GFOA will serve as a mechanism for issue resolution. Too often implementation vendors and government staff have difficulty sorting out the wisdom of process changes which adds unnecessary delays to the implementation timeline and raises project costs. If the functionality of the software is to be maximized, issues must be resolved on a timely basis. Our network of finance officers is a unique resource for validating leading-edge business practices. GFOA would be available to provide an independent source of advice to facilitate prompt issue resolution. 8. Post Project Review. Certain tasks will be repeated when upgrades/patches are applied or when a major system upgrade is required. To prepare for these events, GFOA Consultants will work with the Project Managers to conduct a "Lessons Learned" meeting upon completion of the project. Our consultants will document the results of the meeting and submit them to your Project Managers. (Please note: GFOA recommends that some "Lessons Learned" meetings take place during implementation. For example, a "lessons learned" meeting conducted immediately after the completion of the earliest test scripts may facilitate the completion of the overall testing process.) GFOA will also conduct a post go live review of the system that compares production business processes to the system configuration documents and analyzes whether the system requirements have been addressed in full. 9. Other Implementation Services. Periodically, GFOA is asked to provide other types of services to clients during implementation. Some of these services have included augmenting client resources for budget design and chart of account design, project management assistance,