Hosted by Chandra Wobschall and Paul Houtkooper
Welcome back to The JDE Connection with your hosts, Chandra Wobschall and Paul Houtkooper. In this episode, we had the opportunity to record live at the INFOCUS 2024 conference, where we teamed up with Jim Callan from Oracle Support for an insightful conversation about how to request product improvements for JD Edwards.
We wanted to originally drop this episode the week after the conference, however some of us had a conference “hangover” while others had “circulating” circumstances, which sidelined us (listen to understand more). We apologize for the delay.
INFOCUS: Excitement and Energy
From the moment we kicked off, the energy at the conference was palpable. The standing-room-only crowd at the roadmap session made it clear that people are hungry for updates and thirsty for knowledge. The immense session list covering all 3 days showed us that the JD Edwards community is thriving and eager to learn.
The Enhancement Request Journey
The heart of the episode was centered around a topic that is often seen as a “black hole”—enhancement requests. We dove deep into the process, addressing common frustrations and misconceptions, while offering valuable advice on how to make the system work for you. According to Paul, the process boils down to three steps:
- Log the Request with Oracle – Start by logging a service request with Oracle. If it’s not in their system, it doesn’t exist!
- Enter the Request on Quest – Log your enhancement on Quest’s site, ensuring you link it back to Oracle using your enhancement number.
- Gather Support – To gain traction, you’ll need community backing. Get involved with SIGs (Special Interest Groups) to rally support for your request.
Jim Callan provided some great advice on how to craft your requests more effectively. “Start with the outcome you’re trying to achieve,” he explained, noting that too often, enhancement requests focus on a solution rather than the business problem they are trying to solve.
Getting Involved and Working Together
As we emphasized, the more involved you are, the better the chances your requests will get attention. One thing Paul mentioned that really struck a chord: “The answer is always ‘no’ if you never ask.” But it’s not just about asking; it’s about asking in a way that makes sense for the larger JD Edwards community. By focusing on solutions that will benefit many users, your requests are more likely to make it to Oracle’s roadmap.
Chandra also highlighted how essential it is to collaborate with your SIGs and leverage the tools available on Quest. By voting for enhancements and discussing them at conferences like INFOCUS, you can increase the visibility and priority of your request.
A Quick Laugh with Midwestern Wisdom
Of course, it wouldn’t be a JDE Connection episode without some “Midwestern Wisdom”! This week, we learned about the Norwegian version of a crepe made from potatoes that can be served sweet or savory. Several of our audience members were familiar with this midwestern fair and shared their experiences. Our live audience had a great time learning about it, especially Paul, who was still reeling from learning about Snickers Salad in a previous episode.
Final Thoughts
Whether you caught this episode live at INFOCUS or are listening to it on your way to work, we hope it will help you navigate the enhancement request process more successfully going forward. Remember, your voice matters and we love hearing from you—so send your feedback, comments, or ideas for future podcast topics to us at TheJDEConnection@questoraclecommunity.org.
Until next time, let’s keep learning, sharing, and most importantly, laughing together!
Toodles,
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Learn More
Quest Oracle Community is where you learn. Ask questions, find answers, swap stories and connect to other JD Edwards customers and product experts in the JD Edwards Community, where you can also check out what’s happening in the Business Analyst SIG.