University of Canterbury Implements New PeopleSoft Self Service Human Resource Management System
AUCKLAND – July 27, 2000 – In a move designed to bring simplicity and flexibility to its human resource management
technology infrastructure, one of the country’s leading tertiary education institutions, the University of Canterbury is
migrating to PeopleSoft’s Human Resource Management System (HRMS) package.
Associate Professor Mike Dewe, Director of Information Technology, University of Canterbury says that in moving to the
PeopleSoft system, the University can take advantage of web enabled technology to deliver self service access and
information to a broad range of users.
“With approximately 1300 full time equivalent employees, it is important that we have the best and most reliable system
supporting the collection, analysis and management of our human resource information. The PeopleSoft HRMS package is
both web and workflow enabled, which will improve the quality of information to support our decision-making and
strategic planning. This functionality, combined with the PeopleSoft licensing structure, will also allow us to deploy
the application out to the widest possible audience within the University campus.”
Stewart Gibbs, New Zealand Manager, PeopleSoft New Zealand says the University of Canterbury’s decision to adopt the
PeopleSoft HRMS system confirms the superior flexibility and scalability of the product.
“Large institutions expect nothing less than the highest quality, most reliable platform on which to run their human
resource management and reporting processes. At the same time they need minimal downtime associated with implementation.
Our approach has been to support the University of Canterbury with a low risk, rapid deployment model to avoid costly
modifications to existing systems and processes.”
In seeking a low risk proven solution provider who understood the academic environment, Dewe says the University of
Canterbury will have a system that will enable it to store, locate and manage large amounts of information without
administrative overload. “This administrative granularity will enable the deployment of resources that used to be needed
to manage the old system to other parts of the University that focus on meeting the real cost value drivers of its HR
function.”
The University of Canterbury has chosen to manage the implementation of the new system with assistance from PeopleSoft
Consulting Group and private consultants. “Realising the immediate benefits of the new system comes down to a well
managed and well resourced deployment process,” says Dewe. “You cannot embark on this type of exercise without putting
together a team with complementary skills that are equal to the task at hand. In our experience the success of most
technology projects depends on sound change management and development processes, good project management, and well
defined business objectives as much as the technology itself. To this end PeopleSoft’s reputation for developing
successful working relationships with a range of implementation partners and consultants was a significant factor in our
decision to use them.”
Gibbs says PeopleSoft looks forward to working with the University of Canterbury to realise immediate benefits from the
new system. “The partnership philosophy underpinning the implementation approach at the University of Canterbury is
fundamental to maximising the effectiveness of the new technology and the people using it.”
In the immediate future Dewe says the University plans to replace its existing payroll system by Q4 2000. Additional
human resources functionality is expected to be implemented by Q2 2001.
About University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury is New Zealand’s second oldest university, established in 1873. It was set up on the
Oxbridge model with one major difference; women students were admitted from the start. An early graduate, Helen Connon,
became the first women in the then British Empire to win honours. Two of its most distinguished graduates are Ernest
Rutherford, father of atomic science, and Apirana Ngata, the first Maori graduate. Their faces now grace New Zealand’s
highest value bank notes, the $100 and $50 respectively. It is now a leading research and tertiary teaching institution
in New Zealand that has approximately 1300 staff and 11500 equivalent fulltime students. It has an annual budget that is
in the region of $150M. Canterbury offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in some 50 disciplines, spanning the
alphabet from Accountancy to Zoology. Its primary faculties include Arts, Sciences, Engineering, Law and Commerce. The
University has a well-established and enviable international reputation for research particularly in the engineering and
sciences fields of study. It graduates approximately 2750 students per annum of which there are typically 280 Masters
and 60 PhD postgraduates graduating per annum. The actual number of postgraduate research students is in the region of
840 per annum.
About PeopleSoft
PeopleSoft is a worldwide leader in eBusiness solutions offering Customer Relationship Management, Supply Chain
Management, Human Resource Management, Financial Management, Professional Services Automation, and Learning Solutions
for a range of industries. PeopleSoft supplies eBusiness applications, consulting and education for large and
medium-size enterprises that desire flexibility, speed, and lower cost of ownership in the Internet economy. With more
than 4,000 customers and 7,000 employees, including 2,400 consultants and products, installed in more than 90
countries, PeopleSoft leads its customers in achieving the highest value
from eBusiness solutions.
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reserved.
PeopleSoft began operations in Asia Pacific in 1993 and now has offices in Auckland, Wellington, Sydney, Melbourne,
Canberra, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia. Its customers include AAP, AMP, Alcoa,
Australian National University, Australian Stock Exchange, Coles Myer, Department of Defence, Eastern Energy, Ford,
Foxtel, John Fairfax Holdings, Loy Yang Power, National Mutual Health Insurance, NZ Police, NZ Post, NZ UNITEC, Reserve
Bank of Australia, Reding Paper Products, Transfield Pty Ltd, University of NSW, WA Department of Education and WA
Petroleum, Hewlett-Packard, Citibank, AMD, DBS Bank, PSA Corporation, Singapore Ministry of Finance, Morrison Express,
Singtel, Starhub, Tenaga Nasional, Telekom Malaysia and Swire Properties. For further information, please visit
www.peoplesoft.com
MEDIA INFORMATION
Stewart Gibbs, PeopleSoft +64 9 358 7155, stewart_gibbs@peoplesoft.com
Mike Dewe, University of Canterbury + 64 3 366 7001, m.dewe@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Peter Hennessey, Botica Conroy & Associates +64 9 303 3862, peterh@bca.co.nz