Making a Quest to Atlanta
For some very strange reason I always think of Monty Python whenever I see or hear the word Quest. No, I do not believe the Holy Grail can be found in Atlanta this week but I do think quite a bit of Oracle PeopleSoft knowledge will be available for the strong of heart at the Quest Southeast Conference.
I will be making my way way down south to find out first-hand Oracle’s plans for the future. Will the PeopleSoft Enterprise suite continue to receive plenty of support? What new and interesting enhancements are forthcoming in 2009? I expect some guidance to be given and I will be sharing that guidance and my insights in upcoming postings.
Lastly, I have a speaking slot this week. My presentation, entitled Should blogging be in your HR Future: Hard lessons from a blog creator, can be found [here]. If you cannot attend please take a look and let me know what you think. Your wise opinions are always respected.
Tags: Careers, Oracle, PeopleSoft, Quest Southest
All you need (now) is PeopleTools 8.49
The release of PeopleTools 8.5 is now scheduled for 2009>>. Is this delay until 2009 a tragedy? Most likely not. In future postings I will be taking a closer look at PeopleTools 8.5; a release that promises to deliver many new web 2.0 features. PeopleTools is not withering on the vine. On the contrary, PeopleTools will be a vital technical environment for many years to come.
In my opinion there are a lot of customers who are still in the process of digesting the current release. All they need now is PeopleTools 8.49.
The present state of Oracle PeopleSoft technology is nothing of which to be embarrassed. The cumulative improvements since 8.40>> have really been quite impressive. Many of the old problems have been fixed and many new capabilities have been added. SOA, BI (XML) Publisher, and a modernized Integration Broker are just a few of the many improvements that have been made to the product.
Why wait for 8.5 when most of what you really need is in the current release?
Mature workers are more passionate about work
Still have the passion? For me getting the job done right has always been an obsession. I keep waiting for that feeling to fade and it just hasn’t. Now I know that it is true also for many others who like me are still working over the age of 55. I recently ran across this formal study from a couple of years ago that shows that across the board it’s fairly startling to us that the stereotype we normally attribute to youth – energetic, passionate, inspired – actually fits better with today’s older workers…>>
Here is what the study says about mature workers (55+ years of age.)
” By far the most satisfied and engaged segment of the workforce. Mature workers identify with their organizations and share similar values. They are inspired and passionate about their work. Mature workers want to work, but on their terms and not in place-holder jobs.”
Do you still get a big kick out of what you do? Do you still feel a strong passion to succeed?
Tags: Boomer
Stick with PeopleSoft!?
Today I read yet another article wondering whether Oracle’s Fusion Applications are way behind or right on track>>. A while back there were some serious hints that Oracle would release Fusion Applications sometime in 2008. Soon after, anticipation of a general release shifted subtlety from 2008 to sometime in the 2009.
Now 2010 as a release date is being bantered about>>.
”Oracle may not deliver the first suite of its long-awaited Fusion Applications until 2010, according to Steve Miranda, senior vice president of Fusion application development.”
Is it the right and prudent choice to stick with native PeopleSoft applications for the foreseeable future? I think it is — especially so if you have invested many years in building your expertise.
Tags: Fusion Applications, fusion apps, Oracle, PeopleSoft
Workers over 50 KNOW what they do well
As a person who is over 50 I can honestly say that being over 50 can be a real blast. We know who we are. We harbor fewer illusions than we did when we were 20 or even 30. We are not going to make the PGA tour nor will most of us be taking a trip to the moon anytime soon. What we do know though, unlike many younger workers, is what we do well. There is no doubt that by 50 most of us know what talents we possess and how those talents can be best used to add significant value to clients, customers, and employers. The question is: how can we convince others?
A recent article in CIO gives some job search tips for workers over 50>> that make basic sense. One such tip is keeping your talents sharp and up to date.
“Get tech-savvy. If you haven’t familiarized yourself with text messaging, instant messaging, social networking or other Web 2.0 technologies, now is the time…”
Another piece of advice emphasizes the importance of being your personal best. It is your best defense against age bias . Feel good. Look good. Be professional.
“Curb age bias. You can address some of the common, unspoken predispositions that hiring managers may have about senior candidates…
Tags: Wisdom
Now for something completely new
The stated goal of the Oracle Fusion Application effort was to combine the best>> that Siebel, JD Edwards, PeopleSoft, and Oracle had to offer into one product line that would meet the needs of customers.
“Oracle Fusion Applications are the single applications product line that will combine and enhance the best functionality from all Oracle Applications product lines…Best of the best—Leverage the best features and functionality from Oracle E Business Suite, PeopleSoft, Siebel, and JD Edwards…”
- FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS—Oracle Applications Strategy
One observer who has been thinking about Oracle Fusion Applications>> has voiced another theory. He believes that Oracle is now aiming Fusion Apps at a much higher goal, saving the company’s future. Existing customers are necessary but not necessarily sufficient. The life blood of Oracle is new customers and to get new customers you need a compelling product.
The fusion applications were originally intended to reduce the costs and complexities of supporting about 37,000 enterprise customers by integrating the lessons learnt from Oracle’s own enterprise suite, PeopleSoft, Siebel, and the J.D. Edwards stuff into one consistent package. Now, however, I think they’re intended to save the company - because it’s simply not going to be possible to sell most of the database, management, and BI products once forthcoming MySQL and Postgres benchmarks running on cheap Solaris/SPARC gear have been transformed, through a year or two of actual customer use, into industry standard expectations.
Tags: Fusion, Fusion Applications, fusion apps, Oracle, PeopleSoft
New Fusion Applications a “No PeopleTools” zone
Recently, Floyd Teter, a long time Oracle evangelist, received a close-up look at the new Fusion Applications suite.>> Fusion is real; Not vaporware anymore and Not based on PeopleTools technologies. What effect will this news have on the career plans of younger workers?
Tags: Careers, Fusion, Fusion Applications, fusion apps, Generation X, Generation Y, PeopleSoft, younger workers
The coming brain drain
Many researchers continue to predict a coming shortage of talent and knowledge. It is becoming increasingly clear that Corporate America faces a Brain Drain>> The PeopleSoft industry is certainly not immune and, in fact, may be more susceptible to this trend.
Many experts are predicting a shortage of 10 million workers by the year 2010. By 2014, nearly 20 percent of the workforce will be comprised of people age 65+. This increase will make mature workers the faster-growing workforce segment, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Where does your organization’s knowledge base reside? Is it largely in that portion of your workforce that is seriously considering retirement?
More significant than the talent shortage is the looming “brain drain.”
“Few companies have solved the knowledge-transfer problem,” says Mrs. l.
Retaining older workers, even part-time, gives them the opportunity to teach younger workers what they know. Mentoring and action-learning teams are techniques that have helped some organizations succeed in transferring knowledge.
Tags: Boomer, Brain Drain, PeopleSoft, Retirement, Workforce
PeopleSoft a dead-end for newer workers?
I recently ran across a blog entry that asked: Is Peoplesoft a Deadend??!!>>. This person’s friends think that PeopleSoft 9 is the end of the line and that Fusion will replace the current PeopleTools foundation. PeopleSoft may forever be (see posting below) or it may not. Are newer workers feeling discouraged about pursuing a PeopleSoft career?
Tags: Fusion, Generation X, Generation Y, PeopleSoft
The great non-retired masses
Are you non-retired, un-retired or just plain still working? Who are the un-retired? Is it like the undead? I sure hope not. Jeff Goldsmith recently authored a book entitled THE LONG BABY BOOM: An Optimistic Vision for a Graying Generation.The great boomer non-retirement>> may be a movement we all should be paying more attention to.
[read the rest of this entry]
Tags: Boomer, Careers, Over 50, Retirement