In episode 6 of the JDE Connection podcast, hosts Paul and Chandra conclude their 3-part series with Linda Sloan-Compton, a well-respected business analyst and leader in the JD Edwards community, diving deep into the complexities and nuances of capturing and sharing knowledge within the industry. With a mix of expertise and humor, they examine the attributes of a successful business analyst, discuss the top three tools to be successful and the importance of networking through platforms like Quest. The conversation also touches on the necessity of engaging new community members and the evolving landscape of training for analysts. The episode wraps up by acknowledging the constant need for professional development and urging listeners to continue exploring resources available in the JD Edwards ecosystem. 

00:00 Thank you to Linda Sloan-Compton. 

03:40 Large language models for data capture. 

08:00 Challenges in learning JD Edwards. 

12:30 Listening, comprehension, and empathy are crucial skills. 

18:29 Top 3 tools to be successful in JD Edwards. 

22:51 Importance of Quest and SIG’s. 

28:48 Conference sessions need to cover both new and existing features. 

31:17 Realizing knowledge, sharing valuable resources through networking. 

In this episode, Chandra and Paul continue their conversation with guest Linda Sloan-Compton delving into the intricacies and challenges of finding and retaining talent, particularly in the business analyst space within JD Edwards. The conversation highlights the steep learning curve experienced by individuals transitioning from functional to technical roles and the difficulties of bridging the gap, emphasizing the need for unique skills and mindset to navigate this transition. They highlight the importance of knowledge sharing and community support in facilitating this transition. They then explore various avenues for sharing expertise within the JD Edwards community, including participation in user groups like SIG’s and attending conferences. The hosts also touch on the challenges faced by business analysts in understanding complex relationships and joins within JD Edwards, pointing to the need for practical support and guidance. Overall, the episode sheds light on the evolving landscape of talent acquisition and retention within JD Edwards and underscores the importance of collaborative efforts in supporting the professional development of business analysts. 

00:00 Connecting technical and functional skills. 

04:32 Educate, connect, and empower JDE users. 

07:49 Promoting knowledge sharing in the community. 

10:48 Challenges of interpreting teamwork dynamics and communication. 

13:34 Complicated government processes and communication challenges. 

17:20 Consideration of third-party reporting tools for improvement. 

23:07 Desire for Oracle support for different user roles. 

26:29 Linda describes her exceptional memory. 

28:33 Discuss bridging knowledge gaps and interest groups.  

In this episode of JDE Connection, hosts Chandra and Paul welcome Linda Sloan-Compton, leader of the JD Edwards Business Analyst Special Interest Group (SIG). Linda, who works for Pinal County in Arizona, shares her extensive experience of 27 years in the government entity and her transition from different roles within the organization. Linda reveals the challenges of bridging the gap between the functional and technical aspects of JD Edwards, emphasizing the importance of analysts having a deep understanding of data relationships and system functionalities. The conversation reflects on the key role business analysts serve in comprehending the system and translating data to developers, underscoring the critical need for analysts to be well-versed in system tables, aliases, and prefixes for effective communication with the technical team. Linda also sheds light on the complexities involved in troubleshooting reports and understanding the interwoven nature of tables and fields within the JD Edwards system. 

00:00 Introduction Linda Sloan-Compton 

05:53 Linda’s career path. 

08:46 Knowledge garden explained. 

11:40 Balancing technical and functional expertise in finance. 

14:25 Understanding tables and relationships. 

22:51 How field meanings change based on different attributes. 

25:26 Midwesternism of the week! 

Hosts Chandra and Paul start with a tribute to a valued member of the JDE Community, Andy Klee. Continuing with Andy’s passion of education, they discuss a variety of topics focused on JD Edwards (JDE) terminology and its applications, making it a valuable listen for newbies and veterans alike in the JD Edwards community. Encouraging the audience to play along with a game of Lingo Bingo, they cover terms like, Fastpath, Batch and Interactive Versions, Processing Options, Data Dictionary, Notifications and much more.  Throughout the episode, the hosts share several insights regarding topics like the importance of UDCs, the personalization capabilities with UDOs, and details on JDE releases, updates and ESUs. Finally, in an attempt to help their audience fill their bingo boards, they rattle off a series of common JDE acronyms including, SIGs, RUGs, AAI, DMAI, JSI, UOM, OGL, UPK, LMS, and MOS? If you want to deepen your understanding of JD Edwards and enjoy some laughs along the way, don’t miss this episode!

00:00  Tribute to Andy Klee 

04:00  Play JD Edwards lingo bingo, have fun! 

10:16  Use watchlist and notifications for smooth operations. 

13:58  Form control elements. 

15:01  Form types have consistent elements.  

18:18  Troubleshooting user issues with report execution details. 

23:19  Data dictionary defines and controls system attributes. 

25:09  User Defined Objects are empower JD Edwards customers. 

29:58  CNC terms, tools and concepts 

32:14  Cross reference is valuable for indentifying data usage. 

36:37  Unit of measure, the primary unit is important. 

38:30  My Oracle support provides various useful resources. 

41:44  Midwesternism of the Day! 

Hosts Chandra and Paul delve deeper into the multifaceted role of the JD Edwards Business Analyst (BA). Chandra shares her journey from accounting to becoming a BA and discusses the various paths that can lead to a BA role. The episode underscores the importance of attributes like curiosity, effective communication, and continuous learning, as BAs often come from diverse backgrounds including super users, those with business or programming degrees. Challenges, such as continually changing business requirements, troubleshooting with incomplete information, and the intricacies of project management, underscore the importance of skills like active listening, emotional intelligence, and maintaining a sense of humor. The hosts emphasize the value of a robust network within the JD Edwards community, and the role it plays in the success and growth of a BA. 

00:00 Chandra’s time as a contract accountant with JDE. 

03:43 Chandra’s transition from business analyst to accounting manager. 

09:14 Continuous introduction of new methods and tools. 

11:26 Transitioning from users to business analysts. 

14:48 Curiosity and willingness to learn. 

19:35 Effective communication: ask, listen, and clarify. 

20:26 Trust, verify, and actively listen for completeness. 

25:25 Assessing emotional intelligence. 

29:07 Connecting with the JD Edwards community. The importance of building relationships. 

31:47 Project management skills: organization, detail oriented, risk mitigation, and assessing ROI. 

39:17 Creatively leverage JDE toolbox to solve problems. 

44:20 Midwesternism of the day. 

46:54 Episode 3 teaser. 

In this episode, Chandra and Paul delve into the world of JD Edwards Business Analysts (BAs). They kick things off by unpacking what it really means to be a BA, essentially serving as the communication hub between different stakeholders, deciphering, and translating requirements for business processes and systems. BAs are like the navigators, bridging the gap between the tech geeks and the business buffs, ensuring everyone speaks the same language and sails smoothly toward achieving organizational goals. 

As their conversation unfolds, Chandra and Paul dive into the nitty-gritty of a BA's daily grind. From gathering and analyzing business requirements to wearing multiple hats like project management, user testing, training, and tackling day-to-day production issues, they paint a vivid picture of the dynamic nature of the BA role. It's not just about understanding the ins and outs of the system; it's about being the go-to problem-solver, the voice of reason, and the guardian of IT protocols and security. 

But why are BAs so crucial, you might ask? Well, according to Chandra and Paul, they're the unsung heroes of informed decision-making, process optimization, and risk mitigation. They're the glue holding everything together, ensuring projects align with strategic goals and that everyone's on the same page. With a dash of humor and a sprinkle of Midwestern flair, the hosts introduce listeners to the term that is a catch-all expression for the rollercoaster of emotions BAs experience on a daily basis. 

In this podcast episode, Chandra Wobschall and Paul Houtkooper introduce their podcast series called, "The JDE Connection." They briefly discuss their backgrounds and roles, with Chandra being a senior business analyst and Paul being the Vice President of JD Edwards Product Development at Oracle. They share their goals for the podcast, which include sharing knowledge about JD Edwards Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software and helping to educate and inspire the various participants including business analysts (BAs), CNCs, and developers in the JD Edwards community. 

This episode also outlines future topics such as the challenges of learning JD Edwards, the importance of understanding JD Edwards lingo, available resources for learning and troubleshooting, tools like Cafe1, Orchestrator, Logic Extensions, and the significance of engaging with different stakeholders, such as end-users and leadership, to ensure successful projects and process improvements.  

The key moments in this episode are: 

00:00:08 - Introduction to JDE Connection podcast  

 00:01:08 - Paul's Background 

 00:02:55 - Chandra's Background 

 00:10:28 - Filling the Education Gap in the JD Edwards Community  

 00:13:48 - Choosing the Podcast Format  

 00:15:15 - Podcast Duration and Format  

 00:16:44 - Upcoming Topics  

 00:18:19 - Roles and Responsibilities  

 00:19:39 - Feature Functionality  

 00:22:20 - Tools and Troubleshooting  

The JDE Connection podcast series, hosted by Chandra Wobschall and Paul Houtkooper, serves as a valuable resource for the JD Edwards ecosystem. Our mission is to educate and inspire members of the JD Edwards community by conducting insightful interviews with various professionals, including Business Analysts (BAs), CNC experts, developers, and other knowledgeable participants. Join us as we delve into the intricacies of JD Edwards EnterpriseOne software and empower our audience with practical insights and knowledge.