Workday Project Update 

Issue 3

Dear colleagues,  

I’m thrilled to embark on this transformative journey together as we implement Workday, our new and powerful tool for managing our HR and financial processes. This newsletter is your go-to source for all the latest updates, tips, and success stories as we navigate this exciting project. As we continue to make strides with the implementation, our focus remains on collaboration, effective communication, and celebrating milestones along the way. 

In this issue of the newsletter, we offer an in-depth look at unit testing activities, provide details about accessing useful resources, share additional information about Workday, and more! 

Last week, our implementation partners from Huron joined us for unit testing on campus. This step is essential to verify that each part of the Workday system functions reliably and seamlessly. Testing, identifying concerns, and resolving any identified issues that have come up is critical to our success. 

A huge thank you to the project team's dedication and contributions during this key phase of the project. The team has dedicated countless hours to get us where we are, and we would not be here without them. This is a true team effort with many voices providing input and expertise. 

As we move through the Architect & Configure phases, several important tasks await us. These are vital to ensure our setup aligns with the university's strategic and operational goals, and we'll keep you updated as we move toward our anticipated launch in 2025. 

Thank you for your continued support. 

Sincerely, 

Tawanda Johnson 
Chief Human Resources Officer 

Join the Workday Change Management Team on Zoom for a virtual Q&A on November 14th at 10am. This session will be a combination of moderated discussion where the team will address some of the frequently asked questions that were received in the results of the Readiness Survey as well as open time for Q&A.  

In the final weeks of October, the project team gathered to begin the unit testing stage of the Workday implementation. During this stage, the team will validate business process routing, custom validations, and security configurations to ensure they meet W&M design expectations. W&M is leading the development and execution of test scenarios, with Huron Consulting Group providing support. Progress and defect resolutions will be closely tracked and monitored throughout unit testing, which is critical to identifying and resolving issues early. This proactive approach ensures the Workday system will perform reliably in meeting the needs of the university community. Unit testing will be ongoing through early December 2024. 

 

Joey Wermer is a senior Human Resources Information Systems Analyst and a critical member of the Workday project team. Joey's role on the project includes assisting with the implementation of HR modules, reporting and integrations. Joey says she is most excited about the simplification of business processes and reduction of manual workarounds that the transition to Workday will bring. Learn more about Joey on the Workday website!

This month, the Change Management team introduced the Change Network to some foundational concepts about Workday. One of those was Supervisory Organizations. These are the basis for how departments, units, schools, etc. are all structured and how they relate to each other. It’s not too different from our current set up, but there is some added functionality with Workday that will allow us to find this information more easily and see changes in real time. 

Our team will keep the entire W&M community updated via these newsletters as we move toward the launch of Workday. But if you'd like more information, signing up for a Workday Community account is the best place to start! With a Workday Community account, you gain access to a wealth of resources, including FAQs, newsletters, training materials, and more. By joining the community, you can connect with other users, share experiences, and gain insights from those who have already implemented Workday. Additionally, having a community account ensures you stay updated with the latest features and best practices, making the transition smoother and more effective. Download this PDF to learn how to request a Workday Community account.