Canada Presentations

In 2019, Simon Fraser University, Canada's leading comprehensive research university, implemented a strategic vision that included the implementation of world-class business processes and technologies to support a growing research community's need to seek, secure, and managed sponsor funding. Replacing their existing in-house Grant Management System and implementing the PeopleSoft Grants Suite required detailed planning and a comprehensive roadmap. Instead of pursuing a "big bang" approach, SFU sought to reduce risk by implementing the PeopleSoft modules in phases, starting with the core modules of Project Costing and Commitment Control. The Phase 1 go live met key objectives in supporting the research communities ability to have a comprehensive view of budget to actuals including multi-year payroll encumbrances. Subsequent phases will expand to include billing and accounts receivable. Other competing projects included a database re-platforming effort (from DB2 to SQL Server) as well as PUM updates. Learn how SFU navigated the project risks and constraints, kept its eye on the objective of delivering value to its research community, and ultimately delivered a template for other organizations to follow in their implementation of PeopleSoft Grants.