What do you consider to be your main area of expertise?
Definitely reporting strategy, and on a technical level the design and build of SQR's. Over the last few years I have worked mainly as a reporting specialist which has involved not only creating reports but working with clients and project teams to develop reporting strategies early in the project cycle. Reporting is something which is too often left until the end of the project when time and resources are stretched, and is then earmarked for Phase II development which means clients don't get the best out of their system from the start.

Each project is different and even though it's possible to map experience, there is always so much more to learn and new ways of finding solutions to individual problems.

What is the most interesting customisation that you have delivered or seen in PeopleSoft?
Congruent has developed SQRXLS, which is a link between PeopleSoft and Excel for report output. It's a handy development tool which uses PeopleSoft 8 reporting structure, Process Scheduler and Report Distribution to provide a structured method for writing reports. I have modified this to suit the needs of Ernst and Young in order to produce a more manageable reporting strategy. I was brought in to demonstrate the flexibility of having reports in Excel instead of pdf format. I was able to use my reporting experience to show the client the benefits of being able to manipulate the data using Excel, which means that the users can produce lots of graphical summaries. It’s a more flexible alternative than using static pdf.

What project have you most enjoyed working on and why?
The Tesco Global Implementation of HRMS V8.3. It was a long term project, run by PeopleSoft Consulting, which allowed me to see work through, which is always satisfying. It was a big project team and getting to work with a large group from PeopleSoft, plus quite a few Congruent consultants was great fun. We worked together really well and had plenty of time to socialize in the evenings.

It was also the first time I was able to get my hands dirty with the new Application Engine technology which was a great break from writing SQR's and a good chance to develop some new skills. We had to come up with some innovative solutions to their complex Thai conversion requirements, so working with the development team in the UK and the users in Thailand was challenging but rewarding.

I was also lucky to be involved in the initial development of the Global Payroll UK Country Extension for PeopleSoft. I worked with the development team for about six months and was primarily responsible for creating a variety of reports including the Inland Revenue statutory reporting. This was the first time I had been involved with any type of commercial development work. While it wasn’t the most enjoyable projects, it was an interesting insight into how products make it to market and a unique opportunity as few consultants get the chance to be involved in this type of development.

What is the most frustrating thing about the PeopleSoft product?
The lack of testing which means that the delivered product doesn't work. It makes the product seem shoddy when even basic stuff doesn't run out of the box and gives clients a bad impression at an early stage of their project.

I worked on one of the first Global Payroll implementations and it was really apparent that thorough testing had not been performed on the product. Release deadlines are obviously a priority but should be second to issuing a product that actually works.

What originally drew you to consulting or the computing industry?
Computer games! I’ve always had a keen interest in gaming and I decided to study Software Engineering at University. A lot of the coursework dealt with more of the commercial and business requirements, which was equally as interesting as gaming development, but not what I expected. Completing the course has given me the technical background and knowledge which I can apply everyday, unlike all the other stuff you learn and never use again

I prefer GUI programming than C++, which I used mainly at university as I'd rather design interfaces where you get to see immediate progress but also get my hands dirty at the back end to make sure everything works properly.

What advice would you give to a new client starting with PeopleSoft?
You cannot do too much preliminary work. Think about the amount of customisation you require and have a clear picture of your business processes beforehand. PeopleSoft offers a lot of flexibility in terms of set up choices and customisation and if you don't have a good understanding of what is delivered then the option to customise heavily becomes hard to resist.

Changing business practices can be tough but will be an issue to overcome once, rather than dealing with the legacy of a heavily customised system which is near to impossible to upgrade or maintain easily. Customisations aren't a bad thing, but need to be undertaken with a full understanding of the business reason and future implications.

Why did you join Congruent?
When I graduated I decided that consulting would offer a good mix of challenge, flexibility and opportunity. Unfortunately, I had a bad experience with my first job having been promised a lot and given very little – not even a bed!

I had been working with a Congruent consultant on that project, and had heard a lot of good things about the company. When he approached me about joining them, I jumped at the chance as it gave me all the things that I had been looking for in a structured and proven environment. Joining as a trainee was a good move as it took the pressure off, I had been put through bootcamp then thrown onsite and expected to be an expert immediately which was tough. Being able to work with experienced consultants over a period of time, on a range of products gave me the opportunity to develop my application and consulting skills. The support network is a big factor in my progress as a consultant as I know that whatever problem I'm facing, I can always phone somebody more experienced to help out.

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