There are many sessions at COLLABORATE about Selective Adoption and, after attending several of them, I’ve learned that there are multiple approaches to implementation which have been taken or which people suggest to be the best. Selective Adoption has been out for about two-and-a-half years now and we have heard several stories about the process of implementing Selective Adoption, some smooth and some with a few hiccups. In order to get your Selective Adoption journey off on the right foot, I want to touch on some basics of the process and what to consider when creating a strategy as well as share some resources to help you stay informed.
Getting the Basics
Let’s start off with the basics. Selective Adoption is the term used to describe PeopleSoft’s Lifecycle Management process. I am sure you all have heard the term “PUM” used as well, but that refers to the tool used in executing upgrades themselves (more on that later). With Selective Adoption, PeopleSoft customers are able to more regularly apply maintenance and new features as well as apply the changes they want when they want them instead of having to wait for a “major “upgrade.
With this new process you can have more control and flexibility to choose what makes sense to you, but it also means your upgrade strategy will likely have to be revisited to include what changes to take, when to take them, and how to apply the changes efficiently. While this seems like a daunting task, let’s ease into it with some potential first steps.
Creating a Strategy
Every company will need to decide on what their strategy looks like, but here are a few steps that may be helpful to consider as you begin the Selective Adoption journey.
One step is to change your upgrade mindset. With so many moving parts involved and resources needed for change, there is comfort in approaching the upgrade process with the sentiment of “this is how we used to do it,” especially in larger companies. Without traditional upgrades, however, your business systems are agile. Updates are frequent and new features and maintenance are easier to apply. You are also in control of what changes to apply and when to apply them. The benefits of implementing the Selective Adoption process can be a prime catalyst in changing your mindset from “this is how we used to do it” to “this is how we are going to do it.”
Another step is to create a schedule. Again, each company’s process will be different. I have heard of several companies applying the images immediately and some doing it yearly. While the choice is up to you, the companies I have seen be the most effective are those that have a three-part schedule based on the priority of what is being pushed in each image. As an example, here is a schedule I have seen for such an approach:
Immediate Updates
- Tax, regulatory, security, and critical updates
Regularly
- Low-cost, high-impact features and fixes like bugs
Yearly
- Current maintenance levels and newest features; known as the “get current” update
A third step is to consider how Selective Adoption might affect your PeopleTools strategy. The PeopleTools updates are the same as they have always been. Oracle offers full support for twelve months after the next release and limited support for an additional twelve months after that. However, I have heard from early adopters that if you stay current with your PeopleTools updates it will be easier to update to new application features and fixes with Selective Adoption. The best way to know what PeopleTools release you need for the latest update image is to view the Cumulative Feature Overview, which you can find hyperlinked below.
Staying Informed
My final recommendation would be to stay informed throughout the Selective Adoption process. There are many resources out there to keep you updated on the latest and greatest within PeopleSoft, including these on Selective Adoption:
- The PeopleSoft Information Portal connects you to all the PeopleSoft information and resources you need.
PeopleSoft Update Manager Homepage
- Before downloading an Update Image, visit the PeopleSoft Update Manager Homepage to find important information about the contents of the image.
- The Cumulative Feature Overview (CFO) tool shows deltas between releases and delivered PeopleSoft Update Images.
Planned Features and Enhancements
- The Planned Features and Enhancements information center provides a high-level view of planned new features and enhancements to all applications and technology.
PeopleSoft Update Manager Dashboard
- The PeopleSoft Update Manager Dashboard is a new feature available for image updates using PeopleTools 8.55. The dashboard uses pivot grids to give insight into the status of your maintenance and adoption of new features.