Mutual of Omaha significantly reduced customizations

Summary

Mutual of Omaha significantly reduced customizations, deployed Fluid for key functions like Approvals and Expenses, created custom Fluid Dashboards for areas such as Procurement Spend, used configuration and customization management tools like Page and Field Configurator and Event Mapping, applied branding using PeopleSoft Macro Sets, and used Selective Adoption to rapidly analyze the contents of new update images, prepare business cases for deploying new features, and updating test automation.

Customer comments

Mutual of Omaha has implemented a unique Selective Adoption strategy which they refer to as 'Wash, Rinse, Repeat'. As new images are released, they implement a rapid analysis of the new content, assess customizations that can be eliminated, prepare business cases for new features, update test scripts, and incrementally stage the scope for their next 'Get Current' update. By doing the analysis and prep work continually, they are able to execute their 'Get Current' project very rapidly. It also allows them to identify critical items that they might need immediately, which get on their daily work management board, and are deployed to production. Their 'Get Current' projects are every 12 - 18 months to enable the selective adoption of new features as they are delivered.

In addition, Mutual of Omaha:

Significantly reduced customizations with the implementation of 9.2
Has deployed Fluid for key functions like Approvals and Expenses
Used Approvals Page Composer to configure the delivered Approvals pages
Used Navigation Collections and other Fluid constructs to simplify user navigation
Apply each new image to a test environment that is a recent copy of production in order to evaluate fixes and demonstrate new features to determine if they should be adopted immediately.
Used Event Mapping to adapt the solution without invasive customizations
Used the Page and Field Configurator tool to “configure” changes to delivered pages
Created a Financial Home Page with tiles for functional users
Created a Procurement Spend Dashboard Home Page with Fluid Pivot Grid tiles
Created a Developer Home Page to give IT staff quick access to key tools
Branded the application with Mutual of Omaha corporate colors and logos using PeopleTools Macro Set functionality.
Incorporated multi-factor authentication into the standard sign-on process to further secure off network application access.

Why it’s great

Mutual of Omaha's Selective Adoption strategy showcases best practices, including:

Continuously monitoring delivered functionality
Paired with a move towards iterative, Kanban processes
Employs a formal cost benefit analysis for new functionality that considers cost, time, and efficiency
Involves IT and the line of business working closely together
Eliminated customizations at upgrade and incorporates ongoing analysis into their processes
Evolving the Selective Adoption process itself over time, adapting it and making it responsive to the needs of the organization

Mutual of Omaha's use of Fluid also highlights best practices, including:

Deploying Fluid for high-frequency activities like Approvals and Expenses
Extensive use of Navigation Collections and Home Pages
Use of configuration capabilities like Event Mapping, Approvals Page Composer, and Page Field Configurator.
Leveraging delivered capabilities and creating some of their own - like a Developer Home Page and a Procurement Spend Reporting dashboard.