The HR Project was originally supposed to use software from Oracle as well. But in May 2001, the University opted to switch its HR systems to software designed by Peoplesoft, Inc.

Nevertheless, the transition to Peoplesoft had many of the same problems as the transition to Project ADAPT. There seemed to be, at least temporarily, a breakdown in communication between the administrators implementing the system and the users—or at least the student users—of the new system.

According to Touborg, administrators were constantly reassessing the project.

“The scope of the project kept being reviewed both in terms of complexity and in terms of time and money,” she said. “We used a lot of consultants in the process…[and] using their time is very expensive.”

The cost, which Vice President for Finance Ann E. Berman declines to estimate, was a necessary one, administrators said.

“Neither project [ADAPT nor HR] was done to save money,” she wrote in an e-mail. “Both were necessary to replace outdated and inadequate administrative systems that were well past the end of their useful lives.”

Touborg said the University will continue to improve and refine the new financial systems.

“What we have now is a good foundation for going forward,” Touborg said. “We would certainly like to enhance this system.”

But for now, the major upheaval in financial systems is over.

“There are no large-scale implementations in the offing,” she said.

—Staff writer Stephen M. Marks can be reached marks@fas.harvard.edu.