OUM Core Components

1. Task: Lowest unit of work. Smallest traceable item on project work plan and forms basis of work breakdown structure. Results in a new or revised work product.
2. Work Product: Output of a task. Required to meet project objectives. Need not be a document. May or may not be a deliverable.
3. Dependency: Define relationships between tasks or activities.
4. Process: Usually a sub project and can span more than one phase
5. Phase: Temporary grouping of tasks. Natural point for milestones and checkpoints.
6. Lifecycle Milestone: Occurs at phase boundaries. Assure objectives of phase are met. Assure readiness of project to move to next phase.
7. Activity: Next Level below a phase. Groups related tasks. Results in milestone or deliverable. May be from different processes. Begin and end in the same phase.

There are 4 types of dependencies:

1. Predecessors
2. Successors
3. Overlap
4. Gap

There are 5 Lifecycle Milestones defined in OUM. Their acronym are LO, LA, IOC, SP and SO.

1. LO = Lifecycle Objective
2. LA = Lifecycle Architecture
3. IOC = Initial Operating Capability
4. SP = System Production
5. SO = Sign-off

OUM Basics

OUM Level I training consists of the following chapters: Introduction, Basics, Core Components, OUM Structure, OUM Principles and Course Wrap Up. The first post introduced OUM to blog readers. This post describes the OUM basics.

OUM is Oracle's Method Integration Strategy. It supports methods currently being used by Oracle customers including - Compass, AIM, ABF, Siebel. OUM has been developed as a single, integrated method to support the entire Oracle ecosystem and across the complete suite of Oracle products. The aim is to decommission all legacy methods as every Oracle product group transitions to OUM. OUM is product and technology agnostic.

OUM Vision: Support the entire IT Lifecycle, including support for the successful implementation of every Oracle product

OUM Objectives:

1. Ensure that usage of Oracle products meets customer's business objectives Net result being a superior ownership experience for all of Oracle's customers
2. Ensure that customers are able to take full advantage of Oracle product capabilities

OUM Goals:

1. Best of the Best
2. Single Method Framework
3. Fusion Technology Foundation
4. Release Independent
5. Tight Integration with Sales Methodology and Enterprise Level Processes

OUM Benefits:

1. Common language
2. Reduce confusion
3. Integrate Oracle's acquisitions
4. Reduce duplication

 

Why use OUM?

1. Focus
2. Flexibility
3. Time
4. Quality
5. Risk.

OUM is standards based. OUM aligns with, supports and extends the following popular methodologies:

1. Unified Process (UP)
2. Project Management Institute Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMI PM BOK)
3. Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (IIBA BABOK)
4. Unified Modeling Language (UML)
5. Business Process Modeling Notation ( BPMN)

OUM is a comprehensive toolkit. OUM is a plan based method that includes overview material of approach and standards. OUM includes base guidelines for focus areas, views, phases, activities, processes and tasks. Many work products and artifacts have associated templates. Includes tailored work plans that can be used as starting points for projects. Has supplemental guidance for products, tools, techniques and technologies. Can be accessed on laptop or hosted remotely. Focus on Flexible and Scalable method - tailored to appropriate level of ceremony. Guidance provided for minimum set of tasks, tailoring work plan, iterative project planning, timeboxing and prioritization, agile techniques.

 

OUM Supports all types of engagements:

1.  Project and Program Management
2. Application Implementation
3. Software Upgrade
4. Complete Range of Technology projects, Techniques and Tools

OUM: An Introduction

Oracle Global Methods Group Vice President, Tom Spitz, has written a great introduction about Oracle's Next Gen Implementation Approach - Oracle Unified Method (OUM). The articel appears in the Summer 2011 issue of INSIGHT magazine published by Oracle Applications User Group (OAUG). Here is a bullet-wise summary for those who are not OAUG members or are unable to get a copy of the magazine.

• Oracle Application Implementation Method (AIM) for Oracle E-Business Suite and Compass from PeopleSoft were percusors to Oracle Unified Method (OUM).
• OUM covers the entire enterprise IT lifecycle and support the successful implementation of every Oracle product. It is product and technology agnostic.
• OUM includes three focus areas: OUM Envision, OUM Implement and OUM Manage and OUM Operate (planned to be released soon)

• OUM is business-process and use-case driven. Business processes and use cases are used as the
  primary artifacts for establishing the desired behavior of a system and for communicating that behavior
  among the stakeholders.
• OUM is architecture-centric. Through development of an appropriate architecture, the
  project team ensures that all stakeholders develop a shared understanding of what is needed. The system is incrementally built to those architectural specifications.
• OUM is flexible and scalable. For a given project, the appropriate point of balance between a predictive and adaptive approach is based on project-specific risk and scale factors.
• For questions contact Oracle’s Global Methods team at ominfo_us@oracle.com.