BCSAI Treasurer's Integrated Financial Systems (TIFS) Project Files

107603

1983-1985, 1987

series

textual records

4 linear feet of textual records

Series is open according to the Policy on Access to the Fund's Archives.

The Treasurer’s Integrated Financial System (TIFS) was created to be a comprehensive system for automating a large proportion of functions performed by the Treasurer’s Department (TRE). The TIFS project began in 1984 and was to be implemented in six system development phases where components would be implemented over a period of time, finishing in 1988. System development was initially performed by a consultant (Arthur Andersen and Co.) and BCS under the direction of TRE. BCS personnel also participated in the “Project Office” in TRE which managed all of the project activities. However, in 1986, as the project fell behind, the project structure was changed to include four phases which would be, in effect, independent projects and produce interim deliverables, and the overall project management was transferred to BCS. BCS had responsibility for the development of the system and would supervise the work of the consultants. BCS also took responsibility for developing a portion of the system components. In late 1987, an external consultant (Touche Ross) was hired to review the project and to determine the various alternatives available for TIFS future development. By February 1988, the project was over a year behind schedule and only a fraction of the system’s total functions had been automated. Based partly on the consultant recommendations, the IMF continued to implement some of TIFS functionality, but also continued to use some of the temporary systems which had been created in the interim. The idea of a fully integrated system as it was originally conceived was seen to be no longer necessary in the short-term automation of TRE’s work. Other conclusions drawn from the TIFS project addressed how BCS developed project management controls and how user departments sponsored system development projects for their departments. The Office of Internal Audit also conducted a systems development review of TIFS. Series consists of project documents on TIFS from the planning and development phases of the project. Files include the original planning documents prepared for TRE. However, the majority of documents are functional or technical specifications from Phase III, after the implementation phases had been restructured when the project fell behind. The specifications can be a useful source for researchers looking for an explanation in layman’s language of the Treasurer’s activities at the time. Files are arranged in roughly chronological order with all functional and technical specifications grouped together by volume number, regardless of date.

Bureau of Computing Services Systems Development Division, Bureau of Computing Services Systems Development Division A