Cutover Planning (Templates)
Note: Most leading software vendors and systems integrators include similar concepts and tools in their methodologies.
If that is the case for your program, utilize this these spreadsheets (created from a combination of software vendor's methodologies)
as a checklist or guide to ensure that your cutover process is complete.
Use this list of tasks to validate that your cutover plan is complete. Your system integrator should plan a key role in creating a cutover plan for your specific project.
Cutover Plan
owner:
start date:
end date:
Duration Planned Planned
Task Owner Dependency in hours Start Date End Date Status Signoff Others involved
Getting started
1) Prepare for Cutover
Finalize cutover plan and checklists
Communicate plan to cutover team
Communicate cutover timeline to the
organization
Communicate go-live timeline to customers
and vendors as appropriate
Plan and perform physical inventory
Implement configuration management plan
2) Prepare Production Environment
Install production servers
Install the operation system and networking
software
Connect the servers to the network
Create user accounts on the servers
Configure the file system on the servers
Configure printer drivers
Install the user machines and connect them
to the network
Install the database on the database
servers
Install the application servers
Configure the standard applications
database objects
Create the custom database objects
EI Toolkit
Document version 1.0, June 2002
Last validated: June 2004 1 of 5
Duration Planned Planned
Task Owner Dependency in hours Start Date End Date Status Signoff Others involved
Install the system management tools
Install printers and other peripheral devices
Secure access to the production
environment
3) Prepare User Learning Environment
See EUT Plan for details
4) Set Up Applications
Set up the application users in the new
system
Set up and compile the key flexfields
Enter the application setups
Load the initial setup data
Implement the security configuration
Register the application objects
Setup and compile the descriptive flexfields
Enter or load custom seed data
Verify the online operation of the
applications
Verify batch operation of the operations
Back up the production system
5) Install Conversion Programs
Install conversion programs and automated
conversion tool software (if used)
List the location of each conversion
program in the production environment
List the location of any conversion tools in
the production environment
6) Finalize System Administration
Ensure backups are running correctly
Ensure daily procedures in place
Ensure db has been allocated sufficiently
7) Define Cutover Contingency Plan
Define contingency strategy
Determine contingency support staff
Determine contingency project team
Define users/management procedures
8) Implement Production Support Infrastructure
See Help Desk Plan for details
EI Toolkit
Document version 1.0, June 2002
Last validated: June 2004 2 of 5
Duration Planned Planned
Task Owner Dependency in hours Start Date End Date Status Signoff Others involved
9) Conduct User Learning Events
See Help Desk Plan for details
10) Perform Acceptance Test
Review responsibilities for the acceptance
test with the team
Back up the production environment for
later availability
Validate the acceptance test environment
Execute the acceptance test script
Document the results
Determine required actions for problem
resolution
Make recommendations for application
changes or corrections based on
acceptance testing
Secure acceptance of acceptance test
results
Final Cutover
1) System and Network administration
Shut down legacy systems at appropriate
time
Verify Printing/Faxing is working
Verify user Printing/Faxing defaults are set
up
Ensure all network communications are in
place
Ensure external access to system available
Ensure remote printers/services are
available
2) Convert and Verify Data
Verify legacy pre-conversion data cleanup
has been completed
Describe the data conversion sequence
Sequence download programs
Sequence of interface table creation
programs
EI Toolkit
Document version 1.0, June 2002
Last validated: June 2004 3 of 5
Duration Planned Planned
Task Owner Dependency in hours Start Date End Date Status Signoff Others involved
Sequence upload programs
Sequence translation programs
Sequence interface/validation programs
Run the conversions (see Cutover
Conversion Plan)
Enter manual conversions (see
CutoverConversion Plan)
Verify the converted data (see Cutover
Conversion Plan)
Secure acceptance that the converted and
verified data meets century date compliance
standards.
3) Verify Production Readiness
Review the production readiness verification
checklist
Conduct production readiness verification
Confirm the production cutover
Prepare the support team
Obtain agreement for the initial production
schedule
Verify that users are trained
Verify commitment and readiness of internal
and external support personnel
Verify the completion of the production
environment
Confirm senior management commitment
via the steering committee
Distribute the initial production schedule
Obtain approval for beginning production
4) Begin Production
Initiate using the production system
Initiate incident/technical issue
management procedures
Initiate open issues and create a resolution
list
Initiate support
EI Toolkit
Document version 1.0, June 2002
Last validated: June 2004 4 of 5
Duration Planned Planned
Task Owner Dependency in hours Start Date End Date Status Signoff Others involved
Confirm that all components of the
production system are operational
Declare the new system live
EITK 0604
EI Toolkit
Document version 1.0, June 2002
Last validated: June 2004 5 of 5
