Every Maximo consultant must know about their client before managing service or implementing a change.
However, this
may not kindle interest to a technical consultant or Developer. They are
usually more excited about customizing an integration, developing automation
scripts etc., but less interested in learning the intricacies of Asset
Maanagement or understanding the client’s operations.
Here are few methods to make the Functional learning interesting and easy.
Study your client:
Functional
knowledge is meaningful only if it has business context. Hence, knowing about
client’s business is crucial.
Finding answers
to below questions, would help to gain business context.
·
What
is their core business? Like Transportation,
Electricity, Banking, Hospital etc.
·
What
are the applications and modules used by our client?
·
Identify
the Custom and Out of the Box applications used by client.
·
Who
are the end users of those applications? Technicians, Managers, Third party vendors
etc.
Read Maximo Records:
This is another
effective way to get the 'Business Perspective'.
·
Maximo
records are artifacts of business transaction.
·
Maser
data suggests the client’s core business details. Example: Assets,
Companies, Items etc.
·
Transactional
data such as work order; purchase requisition follow a cycle. Reading the
description, worklog notes, status changes etc. can help us to understand what the
client does on day-to day basis.
Explore Maximo data
structure:
Maximo
applications are interconnected at various levels. If we drill down from
Modules, Application to granular level of data fields, then Maximo will reveal
the meaning and functional goal behind each component.
·
Explore
the various Objects (tables) & connection between them.
·
Most
importantly, knowing the purpose of each object, field is essential to before
working on an implementation or a change request.
·
Why: A simple
change like ‘conditionally enabling a checkbox’, may not interest a ‘Maximo
Developer’, but it can weigh a lot of business value; and fault in this
functionality may result adverse impact and rework to business.
Learn via Configurations:
Custom and
OOB Applications:
·
What
are the 'Custom Applications' used by client? Why are they used?
·
How
is it different from Out of the Box? Why couldn't we achieve via OOB features?
Ask the above
questions and find answers. Discuss with
client and suggest improvements.
Scrutinize
the workflow.
Workflows
are a great way to understand the business process. It gives a straightforward representation
of business flow at granular level
Maximo
status (Synonym domain)
·
Every
status of Maximo record denotes part of Asset Management cycle.
·
Understand
the process behind each status.
·
Differentiate
custom status with OOB and find out why is it used.
Integration:
·
Although
Maximo can function as standalone system, most often it is required to interact
with other systems of financial, work management, people management etc.
·
Understanding
those external systems and transaction data help us to better understand the
client’s business.
·
As
the below questions and find answers; Discuss with your client with suggestions
to improve.
o
What
are the systems, data integrated with Maximo?
o
What
is the Frequency of transaction
o
Is
there a better way to do it? with simpler, faster means?
Reports:
BIRT reports,
KPI charts are also good way to study and understand business process.
Analyze & Ask:
·
Analyze
each part of implementation.
·
Explore
the Maximo resources at IBM forums.
·
Then
ask, “Is there a better way to do it?” via
o
Configuration
change / Customization / Upgrade
Be updated:
·
Keep
learning about latest available & upcoming versioans on Maximo
·
Earn
IBM badges , Certifications
Beyond Maximo:
·
Explore
the 'EAM' concepts such as Asset Life cycle, Procurement process, Work order Management,
Char-of account etc. beyond Maximo.
·
Understand
'What does it really mean in business world'?
Learn everyday:
Every Fix, Change, Implementation
is a way to learn.
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