The release of the new SAP computer system into MIT's central financial offices will be delayed from July 1 to September 1, according to Senior Vice President William R. Dickson.
The reason for postponing the rollout is that more system testing and quality assurance need to be done before taking the system "live." Release 1 focuses on implementing redesigned business processes to support the general accounting, purchasing, accounts-payable and accounts-receivable functions of the Institute.
Staff in Release 1 departments are beginning their SAP training this month with basic courses aimed at introducing them to the new software and general features of the accounting structure in SAP. Courses related to specific work tasks will be given during July and August. All courses are being taught in the new MIT Professional Learning Center at 301 Vassar St. More than 250 staff members are expected to attend training as part of this first stage of implementation.
The Management Reporting/Financial Operations team still plans to begin installing SAP in laboratories, departments and centers in the fall of 1996, and to complete those installations by the end of fiscal year 1997. This part of the implementation is called Release 2.
For further information, access "SneAk Preview at MIT," the newsletter of the Management Reporting project online at
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on June 12, 1996.
