State Computer Overhaul Could Face Further Delays

When computer experts describe ERP systems, they tend to use bodily metaphors. Some talk of hearts, some speak of brains, others cite different organs. What they all agree on though, is that merging the disparate functions and procedures of myriad state agencies into a single ERP program is no minor procedure. Paul Taylor is chief strategist with the Center for Digital Government, a California think tank that advises on public sector computer projects.

“You are going after both the brain and the central nervous system and the body is supposed to keep operating. That’s more than any medical doctor would try on any human, but the IT community tries to do it all the time.”

The patient in this case is expected to pull through. Taylor says 2 out of 3 erp conversions ultimately prove successful. But the endeavor -- to say nothing of meeting the July 1 timetable -- has some New Hampshire lawmakers feeling anxious.

“States have gone 24 months without financials in place. I don’t think we can afford to do that.”

That’s state senate minority leader Ted Gatsas, citing one of the many ERP horror stories that have played out in other states…….Gatsas has long been skeptical of the project…….He says he’s all for the promised benefits -- such as real-time accounting of state revenue and spending, and big savings from centralized purchasing and streamlined accounting. But he says there needs to be a plan B.

“Quality assurance people have been saying what is your contingency plan if you don’t go live on July 1st; the other problem I have is we are not running two side by side plans once we do go live. We’re just shutting off the old system and the new one starts, and we don’t know whether it’s going to grasp everything or not.”

“This is not a silver bullet.”

Nick Toumpas is the overseeing the state conversion effort.

“There will likely be functionalities the legislature and exective branch will want. It will not do everything we want it to do right out of the box.”

And that’s assuming the launch is successful. Toumpas, who’s other job is running the department of health and human services, says he won’t move forward with the plan if it requires doing so on a wing and a prayer. Late last month, Toumpas told lawmakers that the project was running at least seven weeks behind schedule. He says people were going all out to catch up, but says manpower remains an issue.

“Our challenge is resources. We have people who are doing this, the have been loaned, they have full time jobs elsewhere, any when they are trying to do the job we have asked them to do as well as their fulltime jobs, over period of job that begins to wear and the work we have in front of us is not making that any easier.”

“Do you want do want put it as accept or reject?”

“Well, half of it is accepted and we’re going to approve a and b and reject c”.

Those are programmers troubleshooting the ERP’s user identification system. By the time the project is done, it’s expected workers will have put in 140,000 hours on the project. Meeting the July 1st deadline is now riding on their success in plowing though what some say is months of work in a matter of weeks..When asked about the likelihood of a smooth launch, Governor John Lynch that conversions are difficult even in the best of circumstances.

“Often times what happens in the private sector, is that they initiate a conversion, then they stop . They go with another vendor. They start it over again and go with different another vendor, then 3 years later, 4 years later, 5 years later they are in the same place when they began the conversion process. I’ve seen it happen; they are very difficult.”

The decision of whether the state plans to make the ERP conversion on July 1st, is expected to be made public at the February 22nd meeting of the legislature’s fiscal committee.