Kuali Financial Systems

November, 2006Tucson

http://kuali.org

Context

Continuity

Construct

Kuali Financial Systems(KFS)

MySQL; Ingres; PostgresMySQL; Ingres; Postgres

FreeBSD;Linux;FreeBSD;Linux;

Why Would a Trend Stop Short?

MVS, Solaris, DEC, XPMVS, Solaris, DEC, XP

DB2, Oracle, SQLServerDB2, Oracle, SQLServer

Apache; Tomcat; ZopeApache; Tomcat; ZopeWebSphere; BEA; OracleWebSphere; BEA; Oracle

Moodle; Sakai; KualiMoodle; Sakai; KualiSAP; PSFT/Oracle; SCT; BlackboardSAP; PSFT/Oracle; SCT; Blackboard

???

Historical Trends with Open Source

Operating SystemsOperating Systems

DBMSDBMS

Web/Application ServersWeb/Application Servers

ApplicationsApplications

IU FIS

Current Release: 47.1 July 15, 2006

How many of these 47 releases were ‘disruptive’?-shut down of system for extended period (> few hours)-major expense to campus (technical or functional)-major business process changes forced by software-significant retraining of users-etc.

2!!!Release 1: July 1, 1994

Release 27: June 10, 2000

Huh?

Loose Coupling

Decomposed (Non-Monolithic) Software Suites

Best of Breed ‘Services’

Non-ProprietarySoftware Solutions

?? Value Propo$ition$ ??

“Community source describes a model for the purposeful coordinating of work in a community. It is based on many of the principles of open source development efforts, but community source efforts rely more explicitly on defined roles, responsibilities, and funded commitments by community members than some open source development models.”

…. from www.sakaiproject.org

Community Source Projects

Context

“Community source describes a model for the purposeful coordinating of work in a community. It is based on many of the principles of open source development efforts, but community source efforts rely more explicitly on defined roles, responsibilities, and funded commitments by community members than some open source development models.”

…. from www.sakaiproject.org

Community Source Projects

Context

KFS

• Community Source• Comprehensive

– Any Carnegie Class institution; Community College to R1

– e.g. Indiana University• 2 R1 campuses• 6 smaller campuses

• Internal Controls

Context

KFS Founding Partners

• Started with Six Institutional Founding Partners

• NACUBO and The rSmart Group are Founding Partners

On 7/8/06, a newInvesting Partner joined

Context

Phase I

Chart of AccountsGeneral LedgerAccounting e-DocsDisbursement VoucherOn-line balance inquiriesKuali Enterprise Workflow (KEW)Basic reports

Phase II

Labor DistributionBudget ConstructionContracts & Grants (pre and post award)Capital AssetsAccounts ReceivableFDRS (Decision Support)*PurchasingAccounts PayableEndowment

IU infrastructure elements that are also available:Portal Framework*IUIE (Decision Support)*

*Optional

Proposed KFS ScopeConstruct

What’s not Included?

• Applications where each institution may have very specific policies and needs or an existing solution:– Decision Support Environment– Security Structure– Cash Disbursement Configuration,

i.e. “Check writers”

Construct

What is it all about?

New SystemDesign ?

Existing Financial System

RefactorThe

Technology

Limited Enhancements

Defined byFunctional

Council

Construct

KFS Features

• Modular Design• Scalability• Distributed Access• Flexible Chart of Accounts• Robust Workflow Engine

Construct

Modular Design

E-Forms

KFS ‘Transaction Engine’--Workflow; Portal

Chart of Accounts

-General Ledger

• Reports• Data

Decision Support

System and adhocQueries and Reports

“External” feedsPayrollStudents ReceivablePhysical PlantLibrary fines etc.

Construct

Modular Design

• Clean “handshakes” between modules• Can implement some or all of the

modules– Capital Assets module may be more than

is needed for schools with limited research activity

– The Endowment module may be attractive for schools running other financial systems

Construct

Scalability

• No limit to the number of– Users– Accounts– Data values– Transactions– Custom Attributes

• e.g. IU campuses

Construct

Distributed Access

• Department personnel initiate transactions from their desktop web browser – the software is not installed on their machines

• Initiator receives immediate feedback on the validity of the transaction – both valid data and compliance with business rules

• Past transactions can be retrieved and reversed or “templated”

• Transaction data can up uploaded from spreadsheets

Construct

Benefits for a Controller/CFO

• Chart of Accounts is custom made for higher education– Function Codes– Fund Groups– Restriction status

• Includes functionality missing in many vended packages:– Encumbrances– Carry forwards and reversions– Special attributes/functionality for programs and

appropriations– Fiscal year to date and project year to date balances

• System is scaleable for the level of complexity required by individual institutions

Construct

• Workflow allows for individual school/department/campus set up for approvals/fyi

• Business rule configuration allows for enhanced internal controls

• KFS product will include tools for effective financial management– Template of core financial policies– Training Series module for fiscal

officers

Benefits for a Controller/CFO cont’d

Construct

Governance

• KFS Board– Voting member from each Institution– NACUBO and r-smart– Chair from Indiana– Extended Board

• Project Manager– Developers from each Institution

• Functional Council– Members from each Institution– NACUBO and The r-Smart Group– Subcommittees

Continuity

• Kuali Foundation– Ongoing governance– Supports other Kuali initiatives

• Kuali Partners Program (www.kuali.org)– Membership based – Commercial Affiliates

Governance/cont’dContinuity

KFS Next Steps

• Phase II a and b

• CA’s…possible implementers

• KFS “Test Drive”– http://kualitestdrive.org/

Continuity

Questions?