Finally I am able to put my thought process around Oracle Unified
Method. Better late than never, right? Many of AIM users by now know
Oracle has discontinued widely used AIM Advantage effective February of
2011.
Even though AIM alternative (OUM) Oracle Unified Method, was released couple of years ago, adaption rate was significantly low until few months. But with the recently released OUM ver. 5.5 adaption is imperative.
Nonetheless, we are in the early implementation phases of OUM. As there are several blogs trumpet OUM, I will share some of the key stand-out information that helps early adaption. These key points certainly abetted us to go with OUM as the methodology of choice for our Oracle platform.
Iterative and incremental approach to developing and implementing software systems are widely adapted over other methodologies such as waterfall. OUM powers one of the de-facto industry standards, Unified Software Development Process (UP). OUM extends the Unified Process to support the full scope of Oracle-related projects by integrating field experience and intellectual capital contributed by Oracle practitioners. Apart from UP, Oracle also incorporated Carnegie Mellon’s SEI CMMI and ISO standards within OUM. Unlike AIM, OUM emphasizes on architecture and thus transforming it into an Architecture-Centric methodology.
Interestingly, OUM approach for a given project is ‘built up’ from a core set of activities rather than taking ‘tailored down’ approach.
Below you will find the pictorial representation of OUM’s phases and processes. Please refer to the reference section to get the details of each phase and process. Also, if you are accustomed to AIM, you will notice OUM has 14 processes as oppose to AIM’s 12. Similarly, OUM has just 5 phases over AIM’s 6.
You should also know that document templates such as MD.050 and MD.070 are discontinued along with AIM. AIM’s MD format is replaced with AN=Analyze, DS=Design and IM=Implementation tasks.For eg. MD070 is mostly replaced with DS.140.
Once you have mastered OUM processes and phases, you can even expand the usage to non-Oracle projects too. We did experiment a bit and planning to expand the usage to Microsoft platforms too. But are limiting it to post production enhancements/customizations that falls under the OUM process ‘Operations and Support’. Once we have it stabilized, I will certainly share the experience later.
OUM also supports several business solutions including Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) , Business Process Management (BPM), Enterprise Integration, Custom Software, Enterprise Performance Management - Business Intelligence - WebCenter - Enterprise Application Implementation, Software Upgrade.
BENEFITS OF OUM
• More Focused Effort – OUM enables projects to clearly define business scope and needs to create architectural models of the enterprise. This planning results in tighter scope control, more accurate business understanding, and a firm foundation for client acceptance.
• Built-in Flexibility – By combining activities and tasks in different ways, OUM can be applied to many types of information technology software development and implementation projects.
• Saves Time – Seasoned information technology practitioners representing years of experience have contributed their knowledge to OUM. Project teams to take advantage of this experience by leveraging these leading practices along with industry standards.
• Higher Quality – OUM subscribes to an iterative approach that incorporates testing and validation throughout the life-cycle, rather than testing for quality only at the end of the project.
• More Cost Effective – OUM facilitates improved control of project expenses by using a flexible work breakdown structure that allows you to perform only necessary tasks.
• Reduced Project Risk – Implementing an iterative, broadly applicable method mitigates requirements mismatch. A key focus of each iteration in OUM is to identify and reduce the most significant project risks. This ensures that the most critical risks are addressed as early as possible in the project life-cycle.
KEY FEATURES OF OUM
• Flexible
• Scalable
• Views
Flexible
OUM is flexible because it allows your organization to select the strategy, techniques, and tasks appropriate for your project. OUM provides specific guidelines for tailoring your project plan to fit your situation - from the most basic development to changes in the underlying technical architecture. By combining activities and tasks in different ways, OUM can be applied to many types of information technology software development and implementation projects.
Scalable
OUM was designed with scalability in mind. From the largest, multi-national, multi-site, multi-entity projects, through to the smallest, limited size, constrained scope projects—OUM provides the scalability required by each unique project. Guidelines aid in determining which tasks to include in the project plan. This greatly reduces the complexity for the project management team in planning the work effort required.
Views
Views provide an initial tailoring of the workplan..
The method material is organized into views. Views provide an initial tailoring of the workplan. Each view page provides access to guidance and a tailored work breakdown structure.
OUM 5.5 provides the following views:
• Manage Views
• Manage Focus Area
• Implement Views
• Application Implementation (Solution-Driven and Requirements-Driven)
• Business Intelligence and Analytics Custom Development
• Business Intelligence and Enterprise Performance Management
• Software Upgrade
• Technology Full Lifecycle
• WebCenter
• Implement Focus Area
• Implement Core Workflow
• Implement Models
• Envision Views
• Enterprise Optimization Roadmap
• Insight
• Oracle Architecture Development Process (OADP)
• Strategy
• The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF)
• Envision Focus Area
• Envision Models
• Other Views
• Full Method
• Full Method Activities and Tasks
• Business Process Management (BPM) including: Project Engineering, Roadmap.
OUM reference documents:
De-support info.
http://www.oracle.com/partners/campaign/eblasts/retirement-aim-adv-bus-flows-185418.html
More details on OUM
http://www.oracle.com/partners/en/knowledge-zone/applications/oracle-unified-method-359405.html
http://blogs.oracle.com/oum/resource/OUM_README_FIRST.HTM
http://www.oracle.com/us/products/consulting/resource-library/oracle-unified-method1-069271.pdf
Even though AIM alternative (OUM) Oracle Unified Method, was released couple of years ago, adaption rate was significantly low until few months. But with the recently released OUM ver. 5.5 adaption is imperative.
Nonetheless, we are in the early implementation phases of OUM. As there are several blogs trumpet OUM, I will share some of the key stand-out information that helps early adaption. These key points certainly abetted us to go with OUM as the methodology of choice for our Oracle platform.
Iterative and incremental approach to developing and implementing software systems are widely adapted over other methodologies such as waterfall. OUM powers one of the de-facto industry standards, Unified Software Development Process (UP). OUM extends the Unified Process to support the full scope of Oracle-related projects by integrating field experience and intellectual capital contributed by Oracle practitioners. Apart from UP, Oracle also incorporated Carnegie Mellon’s SEI CMMI and ISO standards within OUM. Unlike AIM, OUM emphasizes on architecture and thus transforming it into an Architecture-Centric methodology.
Interestingly, OUM approach for a given project is ‘built up’ from a core set of activities rather than taking ‘tailored down’ approach.
Below you will find the pictorial representation of OUM’s phases and processes. Please refer to the reference section to get the details of each phase and process. Also, if you are accustomed to AIM, you will notice OUM has 14 processes as oppose to AIM’s 12. Similarly, OUM has just 5 phases over AIM’s 6.
You should also know that document templates such as MD.050 and MD.070 are discontinued along with AIM. AIM’s MD format is replaced with AN=Analyze, DS=Design and IM=Implementation tasks.For eg. MD070 is mostly replaced with DS.140.
Once you have mastered OUM processes and phases, you can even expand the usage to non-Oracle projects too. We did experiment a bit and planning to expand the usage to Microsoft platforms too. But are limiting it to post production enhancements/customizations that falls under the OUM process ‘Operations and Support’. Once we have it stabilized, I will certainly share the experience later.
OUM also supports several business solutions including Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) , Business Process Management (BPM), Enterprise Integration, Custom Software, Enterprise Performance Management - Business Intelligence - WebCenter - Enterprise Application Implementation, Software Upgrade.
BENEFITS OF OUM
• More Focused Effort – OUM enables projects to clearly define business scope and needs to create architectural models of the enterprise. This planning results in tighter scope control, more accurate business understanding, and a firm foundation for client acceptance.
• Built-in Flexibility – By combining activities and tasks in different ways, OUM can be applied to many types of information technology software development and implementation projects.
• Saves Time – Seasoned information technology practitioners representing years of experience have contributed their knowledge to OUM. Project teams to take advantage of this experience by leveraging these leading practices along with industry standards.
• Higher Quality – OUM subscribes to an iterative approach that incorporates testing and validation throughout the life-cycle, rather than testing for quality only at the end of the project.
• More Cost Effective – OUM facilitates improved control of project expenses by using a flexible work breakdown structure that allows you to perform only necessary tasks.
• Reduced Project Risk – Implementing an iterative, broadly applicable method mitigates requirements mismatch. A key focus of each iteration in OUM is to identify and reduce the most significant project risks. This ensures that the most critical risks are addressed as early as possible in the project life-cycle.
KEY FEATURES OF OUM
• Flexible
• Scalable
• Views
Flexible
OUM is flexible because it allows your organization to select the strategy, techniques, and tasks appropriate for your project. OUM provides specific guidelines for tailoring your project plan to fit your situation - from the most basic development to changes in the underlying technical architecture. By combining activities and tasks in different ways, OUM can be applied to many types of information technology software development and implementation projects.
Scalable
OUM was designed with scalability in mind. From the largest, multi-national, multi-site, multi-entity projects, through to the smallest, limited size, constrained scope projects—OUM provides the scalability required by each unique project. Guidelines aid in determining which tasks to include in the project plan. This greatly reduces the complexity for the project management team in planning the work effort required.
Views
Views provide an initial tailoring of the workplan..
The method material is organized into views. Views provide an initial tailoring of the workplan. Each view page provides access to guidance and a tailored work breakdown structure.
OUM 5.5 provides the following views:
• Manage Views
• Manage Focus Area
• Implement Views
• Application Implementation (Solution-Driven and Requirements-Driven)
• Business Intelligence and Analytics Custom Development
• Business Intelligence and Enterprise Performance Management
• Software Upgrade
• Technology Full Lifecycle
• WebCenter
• Implement Focus Area
• Implement Core Workflow
• Implement Models
• Envision Views
• Enterprise Optimization Roadmap
• Insight
• Oracle Architecture Development Process (OADP)
• Strategy
• The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF)
• Envision Focus Area
• Envision Models
• Other Views
• Full Method
• Full Method Activities and Tasks
• Business Process Management (BPM) including: Project Engineering, Roadmap.
OUM reference documents:
De-support info.
http://www.oracle.com/partners/campaign/eblasts/retirement-aim-adv-bus-flows-185418.html
More details on OUM
http://www.oracle.com/partners/en/knowledge-zone/applications/oracle-unified-method-359405.html
http://blogs.oracle.com/oum/resource/OUM_README_FIRST.HTM
http://www.oracle.com/us/products/consulting/resource-library/oracle-unified-method1-069271.pdf
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