The PSFT Connection

In this episode of the PeopleSoft Connection, co-hosts Stephen Valentine and Brooke Repine are joined by Joe Williver, Oracle PeopleSoft Product Manager, for an in-depth discussion on the Page and Field Configurator (PFC) functionality. Joe shares the origins and evolution of PFC, designed to help customers eliminate customizations and streamline business processes by allowing business analysts to easily make display and field requirement changes without heavy IT involvement. The episode explores impactful use cases, including change tracking and notification features, as well as best practices for collaboration between functional and technical teams. Listeners gain practical advice on getting started with PFC, guidance on common pitfalls, and insights into available resources and future enhancements. 

00:00 Oracle PeopleSoft Product Manager Journey 

04:32 "Component-Based Configuration Explained" 

06:55 "Targeted Change Tracking Tools" 

10:58 Notification Composer Overview 

14:36 Change Tracking and Insights Dashboard 

20:04 "Streamlining Configuration with Advanced Options" 

22:28 "Change Tracking Tutorial Guide" 

24:31 "Sequence Configuration Best Practices" 

29:07 "PeopleSoft's Impact and Community Appreciation" 

In this episode of the PeopleSoft Connection podcast, co-hosts Brooke and Stephen sit down with Jessica Maistrovich from Hennepin County and Jennifer Gilbert from King County—two passionate experts of the PeopleTools Test Framework (PTF). They share their personal journeys improving PTF in their organizations and discuss the supportive, collaborative community that’s been created around using this tool. Listeners will hear tips for getting started, advice on standardization, recent enhancements, and learn about the valuable resources of weekly working sessions and the Special Interest Group (SIG) through Quest. Whether you’re new to PTF or looking to optimize your automated testing, this episode is full of practical insights and encouragement to modernize your PeopleSoft testing strategy. 

01:22 PTF is already included with your PeopleSoft investment 

04:58 Learning to trust the testing process 

11:14 Which script should I create first? 

12:52 Weekly working group available 

15:16 Monthly Special Interest Group (SIG) available 

20:24 Recommendations for standardization  

23:10 Noteworthy PTF updates 

25:35 Utilize this tool for functionality that is tested repeatedly 

27:20 The understated benefits of PTF 

In this episode of the PeopleSoft Connection podcast, co-hosts Brooke Repine and Stephen Valentine are joined by Arul TT and Devin McCall from North Dakota University System. The conversation covers PeopleSoft Insights and the benefits of this embedded analytics tool. Having deployed Insights without consultant help, the guests highlight how to get started with Insights and lessons learned -- making it a valuable listen for those interested in launching PeopleSoft Insights. 

 01:18 What are PeopleSoft Insights? 

08:40 Start with Workforce Insights 

09:41 Oracle transition from Kibana to Insights 

11:15 OpenSearch Server and Dashboard Server needed 

13:11 Real-time Indexing 

14:02 Resources to Get Started with Insights 

17:35 Data Literacy 

18:44 Lessons Learned 

20:54 No Impact to Database performance 

23:33 Key Takeaways 

In this episode of the PeopleSoft Connection podcast, co-hosts Brooke Repine and Stephen Valentine chat with Valencia Borders from ManTech International to learn how her team drives innovation within their PeopleSoft environment. Valencia shares insights into ManTech’s strategic approach to staying current with PeopleSoft functionality, leveraging Fluid WorkCenters, and embracing new Oracle-delivered features to streamline processes and enhance user experience. The conversation covers practical strategies for managing change, empowering business analysts, and making the most of user communities like Quest to stay informed about the latest PeopleSoft advancements. Listeners will be inspired to foster a culture of continuous improvement within their own organization. 

01:12 Valencia Borders and her PeopleSoft Journey 

03:03 About ManTech International 

04:59 Strategic Decision to be No More than 3 Releases Behind 

06:10 Turning on New Functionality Delivered with PUMs 

09:56 Embracing Continuous Learning Culture 

12:44 Leveraging Fluid WorkCenters to Streamline Processes 

14:07 Integrated Fluid Approvals 

15:40 Managing Change from Classic to Fluid WorkCenter 

17:39 Related Content in Fluid WorkCenter 

21:06 Business Analysts configure Fluid WorkCenters 

26:11 Stepping through the Enterprise Components Menu 

27:26 Alerts & Notifications in Fluid WorkCenter 

30:50 Embracing Delivered Technology 

In this episode, co-hosts Brooke Repine and Stephen Valentine discuss the upcoming BLUEPRINT 4D 2025 conference, happening June 9–13 in Las Vegas, Nevada with a spotlight on the new PeopleSoft Modernization track. 

Whether you're a first-time attendee or a seasoned conference-goer, this episode will help you build your BLUEPRINT game plan. They share planning tips and throw out a challenge: Make meaningful connections and bring innovation back to your organization. 

01:22 Meet us at BP4D 

02:12 What is BP4D and Why should I go? 

04:37 The New PeopleSoft Modernization Learning Path 

07:47 Opening Keynotes + Conference Layout 

15:02 Highlighting Sessions  

19:59 Prep Before You Go 

22:33 Closing Challenge 

Resources:  

New PeopleSoft Modernization Learning Path: https://questoraclecommunity.org/events/conferences/peoplesoft-reconnect/learning-path/  

2025 Blueprint 4D Session Listing: https://questoraclecommunity.org/sessionlisting?event=a1mUT000003CCdB  

In this debut episode of the PeopleSoft Connection podcast, co-hosts Stephen Valentine, Senior Director of Quality Assurance at Milton Hershey School, and Brooke Repine, Business Systems Analyst at Samaritan’s Purse, introduce themselves and share their PeopleSoft journeys. They discuss how their organizations are leveraging PeopleSoft’s HCM and FSCM modules to streamline operations and support their respective missions. The hosts highlight the value of engaging with the Quest PeopleSoft Community, outline their goals for the upcoming podcast series, and preview topics such as modernization, expert interviews, and networking opportunities at the Blueprint 4D conference. This episode sets the stage for future deep dives into PeopleSoft innovation, best practices, and community connections. 

00:00 PeopleSoft Connection Podcast Launch 

03:40 Stephen’s PeopleSoft Journey 

5:05 Brooke’s PeopleSoft Journey 

5:45 Milton Hershey School & Samaritan’s Purse using PeopleSoft to transform lives 

11:47 What to expect for this Podcast series 

15:40 Value of Quest Community 

16:07 Blueprint 4D 2024 Dallas 

17:19 Blueprint 4D 2025 Las Vegas 

Resources:  

Blueprint 4D https://questoraclecommunity.org/events/conferences/blueprint4d/ 

2025 Blueprint 4D Session Listing: https://questoraclecommunity.org/sessionlisting?event=a1mUT000003CCdB  

Quest Oracle Community https://questoraclecommunity.org/ 

The PSFT Connection podcast series, hosted by Brooke Repine and Stephen Valentine, is a valuable resource for the PeopleSoft community. Our mission is to educate and inspire by highlighting the power of community through Quest and showcasing the modern capabilities of the PeopleSoft platform. In addition to conducting engaging interviews with Business Analysts, developers, and other experienced professionals, we’ll also focus on helping BSAs and functional users extract greater value from PeopleSoft by leveraging tools and features that don’t require technical development. Join us as we explore the intricacies of PeopleSoft, share practical insights, and empower users to make the most of this powerful platform.