The Penn State University payroll system modernization project aimed to (1) reduce risks from the old payroll system written in multiple languages, (2) modularize and increase flexibility of the new system, and (3) implement a single technology. The project established a modern development environment, converted non-Natural code to Natural, and modernized the application through analysis and updating the data model, business logic, and code. Key accomplishments included converting the COBOL compute module to Natural and implementing enhancements like electronic voucher distribution and exception reporting.

1. Modernizing and
Standardizing the Penn State
University Payroll System
Wendi Herrington
Programmer/Analyst
October 2013
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2. About Penn State University
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3. Current Payroll System
• Written in several different languages
• COBOL
• Easytrieve
• Natural
• Batch process that runs three times a month
• Twice for Biweekly Payroll
• Once for Monthly Payroll
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4. •
•
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PSU Financial data is extracted three days
before payroll runs
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Output used to update the PSU
Financial Database

5. Payroll System Concerns
Risky
Not
Modularized
Not flexible
Payroll System
Old
Technology
Old Business
Logic
Limited
Resources
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6. Modernization Project Purpose
Reduce Risk
Modularize
Compute
Flexibility
New Payroll
System
Analyze
Business
Logic
One
Technology
Increase
Resources
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7. Finding a Solution
• The payroll modernization project was approved September 10, 2010
by University senior management
• The University hired Software AG consultants to provide technical
project management, analysis and Natural training for Penn State staff
for the first year of the project
• Six month start up period
• Start Date of April 4, 2011
• End Date of June 30, 2014
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8. PSU Payroll Modernization Blueprint
(Provided by SoftwareAG)
Establish
Modern
Development
Environment
Conversion of
non-Natural
Code
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Setup
Application in
Development
Environment
Application
Modernization
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9. Establish Modern
Development Environment
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10. Implement NaturalONE
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11. Implement Natural Engineer
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12. Setup the Payroll Application in the new
Development Environment
“The most critical part of the Payroll
Modernization is not a modernization task but a
generic software development task:
Test Plan Creation and Execution”
-
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SoftwareAG

13. Setup the Payroll Application in the new
Development Environment
PROD
PAYROLL
PRODUCTION
DB 226
PAYROLL
MODERNIZATION
DEVELOPMENT
DB 232
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14. New Development Environments
PSU
Production
Environment
ADA 226
_______________
Payroll Parallel
Acceptance
Environment
ADA 233
_______________
Payroll
Development
Environment
ADA 232
_______________
PSU
Test
Environment
ADA 229
____________
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•
•
•
•
•
Runs on IPO2
•
•
•
•
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Runs on IPO3
Production Control
must submit the
JCL
Security set up
similar to
production
Copy of
production data
Copy of parallel
code
Environment is
ONLY used to run
parallel for the
next X months
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•
•
•
•
Runs of IPO3
Payroll Developer
must submit the
JCL
Security is set up
similar to PSU test
Copy of
production data
Copy of Production
Code
Environment is
ONLY for payroll
developers
Runs on IPO2

15. Conversion of non-Natural Code
• Analyze and convert COBOL code into Natural
• PSU sent almost 100 COBOL programs to Germany to be automatically
converted to Natural
• A SoftwareAG consultant converted the compute module from COBOL to
Natural in about four months
• Manually analyze and convert PL1 and Easytrieve code into Natural
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16. Application Modernization
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Build/Update data models
Document physical and logical application data model
Utilize Natural Engineer to identify unused fields and identifiers
Identify new data requirements from COBOL conversions
Analyze and update business requirements
Normalize data structures
Identify Missing or unused modules
Analyze partner applications
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17. Project Approach
- Work Streams
- Established a series of work streams focused around key objectives as
follows:
-
Payroll Enhancements
Payroll Analysis
Non-Natural Code Conversion
COMPUTE Conversion
Testing and Code/Change Management
Infrastructure
- Run the work streams in parallel and manage dependencies between the
work streams
- Teams
- Create teams with focus on a work stream
- Designate a team lead to be primary point of contact
- Teams have a primary team but support all work streams as needed
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18. Project Approach – Work Streams
Steve Savard – Resource Manager and Payroll Subject Matter Expertise
Work Stream 1
Enhancements
Work Stream 2
Payroll Analysis
Work Stream 3
Non-NAT Code
Work Stream 4
Work Stream 1
COMPUTE
Work Stream 5
Testing/Code Mgt
Work Stream 6
Infrastructure
Steve
Karen
Vicki
Vicki
Clyde/Steve
Rusty
Phase 1
Convert to NAT
Create Test Plan
Run in Parallel
Deploy to PROD
Create Code
Mgmt Approach
Subversion
Repository Load
Automated
COBOL
Conversion
Payroll
Development
Standards
Other Non-NAT
Conversion
Analysis
Time-Cards
Impact Analysis
Prioritize
Code Inventory
Pay by Object
Code
Modernization
Plan with
Priorities
Vouchers
Exception
Reporting
Deductions
Taxable Benefits
State Taxes
Pay Grid in
HR Forms
Modernization
Development
Iterative
Conversion
Development
Phase 2
Modernize
Phase 3
Update with
Enhancements
Development Work Streams
Software AG Support
Project Management
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Create and
Execute
Test Plans
Create Release
Schedule
Spec out
Parallel
Environment
Set up Parallel
Environment &
Scheduling
Confirm Parallel
Environment
Requirements
Confirm Data
Requirements
Update
Repository as
Necessary
Manage
Mainframe
Infrastructure

19. Accomplishments
Steve Savard – Resource Manager and Payroll Subject Matter Expertise
Work Stream 1
Enhancements
Work Stream 2
Payroll Analysis
Work Stream 3
Non-NAT Code
Work Stream 4
Work Stream 1
COMPUTE
Work Stream 5
Testing/Code Mgt
Steve
Karen
Vicki
Jeff
Clyde/Steve
Repository Load
Automated
COBOL
Conversion
Non-NATURAL
Conversion
Taxable Benefits
Payroll
Development
Standards
Time-Cards
Impact Analysis
Prioritize
Code Inventory
Other
Deductions
Modernization
Plan with
Priorities
Vouchers
Exception
Reporting
State Taxes
Pay by Object
Code
Modernization
Development
Phase 1
Convert to NAT
Create Test Plan
Run in Parallel
(EZTrieve, Etc.)
Iterative
Conversion
Development
Phase 2
Modernize
Phase 3
Update with
Enhancements
Development Work Streams
Software AG Support
Project Management
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Create and
Execute
Test Plans
Create Release
Schedule
(Gray shades indicate completion)
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Create Code
Mgmt Approach
Subversion
Spec out
Parallel
Environment
Set up Parallel
Environment &
Scheduling
Work Stream 6
Infrastructure
Rusty
Confirm Parallel
Environment
Requirements
Confirm Data
Requirements
Update
Repository as
Necessary
Manage
Mainframe
Infrastructure

20. What our customers are Saying
Voucher
Distribution
“This enhancement eliminated
six boxes of paper a month, plus
it saved mail services, printing
services and payroll staff time.
This is a win win situation since
everything is now available
electronically. This also helps in
retention of security of these
reports. My staff is now
celebrating!”
Ray Burke – Payroll Manager
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21. What our customers are Saying
Exception
Reporting
“The biggest benefit so far
has been this report
because it made this office
proactive instead of
re-active”
Ray Burke – Payroll Manager
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22. Lessons Learned
• The process takes time
• Would have tired more staff in supporting roles such as database,
middleware and systems architect departments
Project Future
• Currently working on finished enhancements
• Using built in features of NaturalONE to call web services
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23. Questions
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