CONNECTING WITH . . . SHARRON ROBB
Get to know APU community members involved in the Eiro Project, the university’s adoption of an innovative new web-based software system.
Sharron Robb
Business Services Manager
Business Office
By day, she balances the financial affairs of the university. By night, she balances the mischief of a 5- and 9-year-old. Some know her as a business savvy problem solver; to others, she’s a patient teacher. Many say she simplifies the complicated—especially when it comes to this project. Meet Sharron.
What’s your role at APU?
I handle all expenses for the university, which includes payroll, accounts
payable, and purchasing systems. I try to make requesting payments simple for
the APU community, while protecting the university’s assets by following tax
and reporting laws.
What’s your role with the Eiro Project?
I’m the functional lead for the Business Office. I’m part of a team that’s building this new software from the bottom up. In fact, we’re the first department at APU to implement PeopleSoft 9.0 software. Among other things, the software will help users manage their business systems and information.
What have you learned so far working on Eiro?
That set-up is hard work. But the pay off—the ease of use this software will offer—makes all the effort worth it. Budget managers and administrative assistants will benefit right away. I’m amazed at just how easy this software is going to be for users once we get it set up. It’s such an opportunity to serve them better.
What are some tools you’ll be able to offer with the new system?
How does this sound? You’re a budget manager faced with a pressing decision and need current balances to drive your path forward. You log into the administrative system, access your online budget, and presto—you make an informed decision in real time.
What’s the biggest surprise?
The Eiro Project promotes collaboration and the benefits are huge. People are much more open to working together. Even within our office, we cross paths more frequently and bounce things off of each other in a way we didn’t really do before.
As we continue to work more closely with more departments, we’ll get to see exactly what they do and how they work, and vice versa. A mutual respect develops. For example, I have gained more respect and understanding of the Information and Media Technology department as I’ve gained insight into the overall job they perform. I have to say “Okay, I’m not the expert in this area, so I’m going to go to this other person who is the expert in that area.” And in turn, other people learn to respect my expertise. It’s been fun to work with IMT more closely, and get to know them better. And we’re going to see more of that, as other offices start working alongside the finance team to implement their modules.
We also are working more closely with Student Financial Services staff. In the past, the Business Office has processed their requests, but within this project we are able to partner with them more completely. So we ask, “What does the Office of Student Financial Services need to do to streamline processes, and how does the Business Office respond to that?”
How has this challenged you to think outside the box?
I’ve been doing business a certain way for 15 years. I’ve had to mentally remove myself from IFAS, switch gears, and change my frame of reference.
What’s your advice to others who will eventually be working on the project?
Jump in. Let the excitement of learning and access to training fuel you. Think of ways you can spread your enthusiasm. Be prepared to juggle your Eiro involvement with existing responsibilities. It’s a real challenge, but worth it. Welcome the change. Stay positive.
What kind of challenges does this project bring?
As an office leans into working on their module, the time commitment means your turnaround on normal business processes may slow.
Since this really is a university project, my hope is that people will think outside their own needs, help one another, and demonstrate grace. Sometimes that means being ready to assist an office that is in the middle of the process. We’re going to need to be a supportive community as we undertake this project that is ultimately going to be so beneficial to us all.
What’s it like working in the Eiro Project office?
The project office represents hard work, but charting a new path forward is fun too. The consultants helping us are knowledgeable, so that makes navigating uncharted waters a cool journey. It’s a lot of hard work, but you have to make it fun too.
We can see the science center construction site through the windows in the Eiro Project office. As we watched the steel supports—or the core of the building—go up, we immediately made the comparison: we’re creating the core of the new software system from which we’ll build something state-of-the-art. That really gave us a tangible example of what we’re doing.
