At BLUEPRINT 4D 2024, the Choctaw Nation shared an inspiring journey of transformation in their presentation, “How We Built Our Oracle Cloud Support Team from the Ground Up.” This monumental shift from a legacy system to Oracle Cloud wasn’t just about upgrading technology—it was about reimagining processes, redefining roles, and reshaping an organization to meet the demands of the future.
A Vision for the Future
Choctaw Nation began with a small team of two to three employees who recognized the need to modernize their systems. They understood the challenge was immense: the Choctaw Nation is the third-largest tribal government in the U.S., employing over 13,000 people and driving $3.2 billion in annual economic impact. But their vision was clear—they wanted a system that could grow with them while providing unparalleled functionality and efficiency.
Key Milestones in the Transformation
The transition officially began in 2018, and by January 2020, the Nation went live with Oracle Fusion HCM. Each step of the journey brought new accomplishments:
- 2020: Core HR, payroll, benefits, and learning modules were successfully launched in Fusion HCM.
- 2023: Oracle Recruiting Cloud rolled out, simplifying and enhancing talent acquisition processes.
- Current Efforts: The team is launching Oracle Grow to optimize succession planning, talent reviews, and performance management.
Meanwhile, advancements in ERP and supply chain management paralleled their HCM successes, including the launch of Fusion ERP and supply chain solutions, with ongoing work in enterprise performance management and inventory management.
Building a Team to Meet the Challenge
Every transformation requires people to make it happen, and staffing posed its own set of challenges. Initially, the project leaned heavily on existing team members. But as the work evolved, so did the team. A dedicated enterprise PMO was established, bringing together project managers, functional analysts, process analysts, and change managers. Strategic partnerships with Oracle Consulting Services and other experts provided additional expertise during critical phases.
Post-implementation, the organizational structure evolved to ensure sustained success. By merging the PMO with IT, adding instructional designers, and designating module leads as owners, the Choctaw Nation set itself up for long-term optimization and support.
Lessons Learned: Navigating the Road Ahead
The Choctaw Nation’s journey wasn’t without its obstacles, but their approach to learning and adapting was key to their success. Five lessons stood out:
- Foster Strong Customer Relationships: Change can be intimidating, and trust, accountability, and transparency are vital in overcoming resistance.
- Clearly Define Roles: Functional analysts, project managers, and developers all play distinct but interconnected roles. Clarifying responsibilities was essential.
- Improve Communication: Streamlining information transfer through tools and structured processes helped bridge gaps and align teams.
- Customize Tools: Wrike, their project management software, was tailored to their needs, transforming it from a chaotic tool into a practical solution that drives efficiency.
- Invest in Training: Ongoing education, certifications, and peer training empowered their team to maximize Oracle’s potential.
An Eye Toward the Future
The presentation closed with insights into their support model, project lifecycle, and how their hybrid team of functional analysts bridges IT and business. Questions from the audience highlighted the practical nuances of their approach, sparking further discussion about the blend of technical and functional expertise that has been critical to their success.
Through their thoughtful planning, dedicated teamwork, and commitment to learning, the Choctaw Nation has not only modernized its systems but set a gold standard for how organizations can embrace change and thrive.
To learn more, watch the BLUEPRINT 4D 2024 Session, How We Built Our Oracle Cloud Support Team from the Bottom Up.