Financial Software Conversion Project Paper
Essay Preview: Financial Software Conversion Project Paper
Report this essay
Running head: Financial Software Project
Financial Software Conversion Project Paper
Name Goes Here
Abstract
This proposal discusses the implementation of financial software application and database in Toccoa Falls College. Currently, the school has a legacy system that houses the administrative software for the campus. Implementation of the software will increase the efficiency of several departments and enhance value to the TFC clients by providing improved services.
Financial Software Conversion Project Paper
Toccoa Falls College is a private Christian college based in northeastern Georgia. TFC has been nationally recognized through the unfortunate flood incident in 1978. Dam Break in Georgia by K. Neill Foster details the events and rebuilding of the tragedy. Through the struggling efforts of many courageous individuals and groups, TFC has been able to survive insurmountable hurdles and become a beacon of hope to many people global-wide who seek a foundation in Christian education.
Introduction
The main administrative software system resides on a VAX/VMS Alpha Server. The departments have been seeking approval to convert the entire system for several years. At this time, the Financial Aid Department has obtained approval for the financial software portion of this system to be replaced with another product. The chosen software is PowerFaids to provide real-time compliance interfacing and best functionality features for clients. It has an SQL database and resides on a Windows 2000 platform. The look and feel of the software is windows based and user-friendly. It manages student eligibility, verification, Pell Grant management, award packaging, loan origination, reporting and research. Provides the latest federal rules which are programmed into the software so you are always compliant with federal regulations. It is a WindowsЮ-based, client-server solution which offers technical support, upgrades, and enhancements.
This project is initiated to interface data files between the two systems and load the SQL database with the data history information from the legacy system database. PowerFaids will interface with the existing administrative software until complete conversion efforts can be made to move all the data from the VAX/VMS system.
History
The college has increased in personnel and data information over the last several years. There
is a need to keep in compliance with state and federal educational regulations on an immediate
real-time basis that the current software does not provide. The antiquated software does not
allow client user friendly capabilities for accurate or efficient job performance. The current
software did not provide clients access to data for any report writing intervention. The Financial
Department has been impaired by old technology and outgrown the functionality. Financial Aid
Director requested software to provide real time compliance with Georgia state and federal
regulations. The research evaluation process was approved. DataTel was compared to
PowerFaids software. Some of the main areas of comparison are charted below in Figure 1.
DATATEL
Comparatives
PowerFAIDS
Weeks
Phone
Support
Same day or 24 hrs
No Support
State Grant Processing
User defined variables
5 Available
Fields
Customization
Defined
175 String Fields
198 Date/Integer Fields
No capability
Batch
Processing
Allows scheduling
Of jobs and reports
Extensive setup
Limited features
Reports
43 built in reports
Multilevel functionality
One time processing
Dynamic
Predetermination
Intuitive software
Auto Updates
Not available
To user
Audit
Trail
Auto tracking/recording
Accessible to users
Figure 1: DataTel and PowerFaids Comparison Chart
Stakeholders
The stakeholders of Toccoa Falls College have influenced the school to continue to make positive advances toward achieving a higher level of awareness for the growth and success of TFC. The Brief of 2002 states the following:
•
The Board of Trustees shall manage the business and the affairs of Toccoa Falls College within the limitations set forth in the By-laws, and other limitations lawfully imposed. While the Board initiates and approves policies, the achievement of these policies is delegated to the President of the College.
•
The Presidents Cabinet initiates, reviews, and approves implementation of the plans of the college. It reviews and sets the budget concerning tuition, room and board, income and expenditures. It receives reports from its members and approves procedural policies and changes. (p. 5)
•
The Project Manager is responsible for project planning, communication, execution and control in meeting, and exceeding project objectives and deliverables based on input from the project stakeholders. The director of each affecting department will submit the issues through the Issue Form to the Project Manager. All documents will be kept in a file and logged for viewing through the intranet web under PowerFaids Log Issues. All issues will be addressed with the P.M. and communicated in the project