Correct staffing and team make-up is as important to the success of your implementation as the technical infrastructure you install.  It is imperative that you address staffing needs prior to the installation and implementation of PowerCAMPUS. SCT can assist with detailed position descriptions. A summary of the positions needed to ensure success is noted below, with the corresponding positions at SCT. Everyone at your institution must recognize that responsibilities will change as we go through this process.  The descriptions below demonstrate the client team and the SCT PowerCAMPUS counterparts.

Client Management

SCT Vice Presidents & Regional Sales Manager

People must be willing to take on the additional tasks necessary and management must be supportive of the process. One of the common mistakes organizations make during an implementation is the failure to realize the impact it has on “normal” operations. To expect staff members to take on the full time roles of implementation, as well as their operational full time positions is to invite stress and disillusionment. Upper management must recognize that there will be times when normal operations will be put on hold. The only way to avoid this is to hire temporary staff or borrow from other departments not involved in the implementation.

SCT’s Vice Presidents and the Regional Sales Manager who facilitated your contract are available at any time for discussions and consultations.  Routine contact at this level, management to management, is crucial to your success.  And your success is crucial to ours.

Client Project Manager

SCT Project Manager

We require that an individual at your site be appointed a project coordinator or manager. It is this person’s responsibility to hold weekly interdepartmental meetings, ensuring that tasks assigned by SCT PowerCAMPUS are completed. Tasks that will be assigned to members of the project team include: code table definition, data field mapping from the old system to the new, process and procedure definition and documentation, and communication on campus.

The Project Manager must ensure that the lines of communication remain open with SCT PowerCAMPUS. When issues or problems arise, we want to be on top of them so that we can facilitate their resolution quickly.

Project Team Leaders

Implementation Consultants & Analysts

The client project team should be comprised of power users and managers of the respective departments. Each representative is considered a functional team leader. This team should attend the implementation consulting/decision maker sessions. For example, the representative from the admissions office is the Admissions Team Leader. The team should meet as often as possible during the definition phase of the implementation. Since the system is shared, with common code tables and common data elements, communication and consensus are keys to success when it comes to making decisions. Each team leader must remember that decisions are to be made from a holistic perspective. Each decision must be weighed against the individual department needs, as well as the goals of the institution, and the needs of other departments. For example, Admissions must recognize that their data collection and coding directly affects the Registrar’s office, which then affects the Billing office. A typical group of project team leaders would be: Admissions Director, Registrar, Business Manager, Bursar, Director of Development, Alumni Director, etc. The team should meet at least weekly, especially during the setup and conversion phases of the implementation.

The SCT PowerCAMPUS Implementation Consultants and Analysts work together to facilitate establishing code tables, setup, configuration and data mapping for conversions.  These individuals have backgrounds in higher education, as well as technical expertise.  The process begins with onsite meetings, Discovery of your information and processes, Definition of your goals and objectives and Deployment of resources to set you up for a successful transition.

Operational Team

Implementation Analysts & Trainers

Members of this team must understand the business processes of their respective offices and the data with which they work. Their work will be heaviest as the conversion test passes are being run. They will be responsible for verifying converted data. They will also be responsible for attending application training, provided either by SCT PowerCAMPUS or the institution. They must be comfortable with their daily procedures prior to the go-live date. That means that verification must also include practice runs of their daily work tasks on PowerCAMPUS. Issues must be escalated to the project team leaders for resolution. A typical group of operational team members would include: admissions staff, counselors, registrar staff, cashier, etc. This team should meet weekly to discuss issues and validate that tasks are being accomplished in a timely manner. If the project timeline does slip, the project team leaders should be notified immediately.

The training staff provides application level training for designated end users prior to the go-live date.  This just-in-time training allows users to adjust to the new software and feel comfortable with it prior to critical periods in your daily work cycles.  The Implementation Analyst on your team is available to assist you at any time should questions or issues arise.

Technical Staff

Technical Support Analysts

At a minimum, you must have staff capable of handling database administration tasks, as well as general system administration, including NT and networking procedures. A D.B.A. should be certified in Microsoft SQL Server. A network/system administrator should be certified in Microsoft NT. SCT PowerCAMPUS can provide consultation and assistance with database and networking issues. Without a technically competent counterpart on your site, your entire operation will suffer.  If your staff is unfamiliar with these Microsoft products, they must be sent to training. Microsoft certified training centers are located around the country. In addition to the immediate application of these skills to your new technology on campus, a solid training and staff development process are known to aid in staff retention.

SCT PowerCAMPUS technical support analysts are on call as needed to assist with installation, configuration and troubleshooting of your network and servers.  We employ Microsoft Certified Professionals who love working with technology.