Defence to overhaull HR, Payroll systems

Defence will shortly commence refreshing its core management information system for personnel management, personnel management key solution (PMKeyS), in an effort to better manage risk and add “significant and sustainable benefits” to the organisation.

The project will involveDefence migrating its existing PMKeyS HR functionality, based on PeopleTools Version 7.63, to the latest version of PeopleSoft, PeopleTools Version 8.48.

It will also move a range of payroll functions to PeopleSoft Global Payroll and Human Capital Management 9. The project also includes security implementation, change management, training development and delivery.

The PMKeyS system integrates military and civilian staff personnel records to a common platform and manages payments to Defence’s civilian staff, recipients of military compensation payments and officers and instructors of cadets.

Defence’s management of the military payroll function is currently delivered through two separate systems, Australian Defence Force PAY (ADFPAY) and Central Reserve Pay System (CENRESPAYII).

According to tender documents, the Commonwealth is seeking a value for money solution that meets a number of objectives of the PMKeyS Technical Refresh Project, such as addressing the current technology risks associated with the PMKeyS and CENRESPAYII systems.

The project, to be delivered over 18-24 months, will also ensure continuity of the personnel and pay functions, and provide a modern, stable technology platform on which to build Defence’s longer-term solution for personnel systems, JP2080 Ph 2B.1. The solution will also help facilitate Defence’s business process reform initiatives.

The overhaul, flagged in June, is part of a $700 million ICT reform program that Defense hopes will lead to an improved Defence information environment to support both Defence war fighting and business reform objectives through to 2030.

In May Defence signalled it would initiate a raft of changes to its approach to information technology. The charges are part of a new ICT reform program designed to provide an improved ICT platform with tighter cost control, greater efficiencies, and faster decision making cycles.