Emerging technologies videoconference.

• Author: Kim, Sandra

Selecting Financial Systems for the 21st Century was the topic for the first Emerging Technologies in Public Finance national satellite teleconference sponsored by the GFOA on March 10, 1999. Across the country, government jurisdictions of all types and all sizes are in the midst of Y2K compliance and technology modernization. Many have taken steps for Y2K compliance and are now focusing on developing an RFP to modernize their systems. The satellite conference seminar was intended to provide something for everyone who is involved in this important endeavor.

The teleconference venue was able to provide information for participants who would not be able to participate in traditional off-site seminar settings. This was an affordable way for governments from Alaska and Hawaii to Maine - 30 states in all - to be exposed to some of the top experts in the public-sector financial management software. Edward Harrington, controller of the City and County of San Francisco, moderated the event and speakers included GFOA staff as well as experts from Andersen Consulting, H.T.E., J.D. Edwards, Oracle, and PeopleSoft. An expert on software licensing issues also was present from Chicago-based law firm Holleb and Coif.

The teleconference offered an opportunity for the participants to listen to financial systems specialists offer advice on financial systems selection, implementation tips and traps, technology architecture choices, software choices for the middle market, and contract negotiation issues.

Michael Madden, who manages GFOA's financial systems practice, spoke on "A Methodology for Selecting Enterprise Financial Systems." Madden, formerly the Deputy CIO of the City of Chicago, was involved in selecting that city's new financial system. He described a step-by-step system selection methodology that the GFOA has used to help more than a dozen jurisdictions.

Thomas White, a partner with the Intellectual Property and Technology Law department of Holleb & Coif, stressed that when negotiating financial systems contracts, it is necessary to address not only the legal issues, but also the business issues. He emphasized that the contract should be a realistically enforceable document that offers solutions that allow a government to reach its goal of successfully implementing a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. He also mentioned a few key thoughts to keep in mind throughout the negotiation process: 1) keep a business focus - don't leave it all to...