Project Overview
By: Amy Allison
- Amy Allison MIDAS Program Director
Deployment Strategy Lays the Foundation for MIDAS
It’s already the end of January and 2012 is off to a great start. The beginning of each year is a time for reflections and resolutions. I am proud of the progress we’ve made on MIDAS and grateful for all the input we received from the field and other end users through the demo and Blueprinting (design) sessions. Looking forward to 2012, I am excited about building out MIDAS and going live with a solution that allows our county offices to focus on the farmers and ranchers we serve. In this newsletter, I would like to share the progress we’ve made, tell you more about what’s ahead, and perhaps most importantly, touch on what’s in it for you.
Recent Project Milestones
With any large project, it’s always a best practice to have gate reviews along the way to make sure everything is on track. MIDAS is no exception. In December, we just passed our second scheduled review. Executive leadership expressed confidence in MIDAS and gave approval for us to move forward to the next phase — Realization. This is the phase where the rubber meets the road. We will build and test the system and develop training materials and end-user documentation for deployment early next year.
Our success in the December gate review was built on input and collaboration from across FSA. With guidance from the field and other stakeholders, the team built a MIDAS demo and shared it with FSA employees across the nation last summer. The response was overwhelmingly positive. The demo showed that the software functionality can meet the evolving needs of FSA and the farmers we serve.
Since then, we held more than 200 “Blueprinting” workshops to gather business requirements and to streamline the processes we use to deliver FSA programs and benefits. With the gate review behind us, the team and I are excited to start building MIDAS.
What’s Next: Deployment Strategy Paves the Way for the Future of MIDAS
We will deploy MIDAS in two phases nationwide. Each deployment is currently scheduled to include the following components:
As we developed the deployment strategy for MIDAS, we accounted for the business cycles of farmers and our FSA county offices. We also considered the peak in Acreage Reporting during June and July, as well as final program payments in November. Milestones on the way to these releases are Realization-Build, Testing and Final Preparation with a target go-live of early 2013 for Release 1.0 followed by Release 1.1 in spring 2013.
Training will take place this fall, close to MIDAS go-live so people can absorb and apply their learning right away. Training sessions will honor different learning styles and be delivered in new ways; this may include online Web-based sessions via a “train the trainers” approach. Both training and testing will be based on business scenarios provided by end users.
What’s In It For You?
Over the last year, you have probably heard a lot about the key MIDAS benefits: Improved Customer Service, Less Redundancy of Data Submission, Expedited Program Implementation and Integrated Compliance. What’s in it for you? As the demo highlighted, we will have everything in one place. That means fewer logins, less ‘swivel chair’ between systems (and the file cabinet), less paperwork and more time to serve our customers —America’s farmers and ranchers.
Amy Allison serves as the MIDAS Program Manager, FSA
Realization Phase Update
The System Requirements Review (SRR) on Dec. 15, 2011, marked the completion of the Blueprinting phase of the project and the approval to proceed to Realization. The MIDAS team achieved several significant accomplishments through Blueprinting, including the completion of a live demo tour in several states across the country, the identification of requirements of the new system and the production of design documents. The previous Project Preparation and Blueprinting phases provided the scope, design and definition that will guide the execution of the new system into the Realization phase.
Through the Realization phase, the MIDAS team will establish the solution landscape, create the necessary training materials, prepare for data migration and implement the final solution in development. Ultimately, this phase aims to build and test the complete system environment and obtain business approval. To achieve this end goal, any identified gaps and critical risks to the deployment of the system will be mitigated or closed through a critical review of design specifications.
As MIDAS enters the Realization phase, the project will continue to gain momentum, advancing quickly to prepare for MIDAS Release 1. Substantial work is required for this preparation, the scope of which includes configuring, developing, testing, deploying and providing support for MIDAS Release 1, as well as updating the MIDAS Project Management Plan. The MIDAS program is currently in position to build out the capabilities outlined during the Blueprint phase and to lay the foundation for the next generation of Farm Program delivery.
- Project Roadmap
Indiana Change Agent Discussion Provides Opportunity for Open Discussion and Questions
By: Danette Oswald, Indiana Change Agent
The Indiana change agents recently met with employees from several counties in Indiana and a district director to review the MIDAS website and newsletter, and view the Farm Records and Acreage Reporting Demos. Immediately following this session, all attendees participated in an open discussion with MIDAS in Washington, D.C., via teleconference. The change agents are currently compiling thoughts, ideas and suggestions gathered from the session, which will be used to help create a clear and improved direction for MIDAS.
The group discussed the impact of the integrated programs and the applications’ ability to modernize our current and future deployment of farm programs. The MIDAS team in Indiana expressed a wide range of diverse ideas regarding SAP’s ability to change the processes associated with service delivery to our producers. These conversations are important to have on a continuous basis as the ultimate goal is to simplify and streamline the work environment for farmers.
Throughout the discussion, team members made several recommendations for time and cost-saving improvements. The meeting was beneficial for collecting feedback on MIDAS and provided a welcomed opportunity to raise questions and share the benefits MIDAS has to offer. Thank you to all employees who provided thoughts, ideas and suggestions.Your role and input is important to the success of MIDAS.
Indiana Farm Service Agency employees are dedicated to meeting USDA’s service delivery goals. Indiana is committed in moving forward with the MIDAS project in anticipation of improving the overall delivery of Farm Service Agency programs.
A Letter from D.C.
By: Jean Knight
Happy New Year from D.C.! It amazes me daily that I work in this amazing city. There is never a dull moment and there’s always somewhere new to eat. When the weather is warmer, it is so nice to walk during lunch on the National Mall or visit one of the many museums.
Before joining the MIDAS team in 2010, I was a CED in Harford County, Maryland. Unlike the other members of my team, I did not relocate. I continue to live in Pennsylvania and I commute two hours every day via the MARC train. In the winter, it feels like I’m in an 81-mile long black tunnel until the Christmas lights dot the horizon. We live on a dairy farm in Pennsylvania and I knew my husband would never relocate, but I have managed to adjust to the commute.
Blueprinting is complete and we are now working to write Functional Specification Documents (FSDs)for Release 1. The FSDs address gaps identified in Blueprinting sessions that need special enhancements to the “out of the box process” for some of FSA’s business rules. We wrote 179 FSDs in the “war room,” where the MIDAS core team and system integrators daily worked side-by-side for several weeks.
Presently, we are working closely with our DAFP and KCMO counterparts to finalize the FSDs. Stay tuned to hear all about the Realization phase in the Spring Newsletter from another MIDAS project team member.
MIDAS Receives Positive Reception at the PACOE State Convention
By: Richard Csutoras
The Pennsylvania Association of County Office Employees (PACOE), recently held its convention in State College, Pa. About 30 attendees, including four members of the STC, the SED, and the NASCOE president, were given the opportunity to learn more about MIDAS’ journey to the Realization phase along withthe many features and capabilities of the new system.
Many of the attendees at the PACOE State Convention were also present at the MIDAS demo held in Lancaster County, Pa. in Summer 2011. Those attendees who viewed the demo in person shared their enthusiasm for MIDAS with those who have viewed the demo online. All were excited about the possibilities MIDAS will offer and the ability of SAP to integrate multiple processes within one system. After receiving an overview of the MIDAS initiative at the convention, the SED and STC recognized the anticipation and optimism that FSA employees felt toward many of the benefits on the horizon.
The attendees were particularly interested in hearing about the status of the MIDAS project and the services that will be deployed first. All present were pleased to learn that MIDAS continues to move forward with tremendous momentum. The project team’s tireless commitment is evident — since August, the project team completed a demo tour, conducted 127 Blueprinting workshops, and wrote 179 Functional Design Specification Documents, among many other significant accomplishments to keep the process advancing forward.
Among the many current transformations within FSA, the MIDAS initiative is a positive change for the employees, who echoed their support at the PACOE State Convention. All attendees at the convention in remain eager to see the benefits and additional improvements MIDAS will offer.
