Overview of the Administrative Management Systems (AMS)

The Administrative Management Systems (AMS) is a group of computerized components that house and process all the data (financial and otherwise) necessary to meet the management and reporting requirements of UofT.

Hardware, Access and Processing

General
The software and hardware used are of a system type called “client-server”. Although, most data entry is done in the many departments and offices of the University by departmental staff, the data and programs are maintained on central servers located in the Administrative Management of System (AMS) department.

The SAP graphical user interface (GUI) is installed on the local desk-top computers (clients) in the department, and allows two-way access through the University’s fibre optic backbone to a set of central servers.

Access to the AMS servers (i.e. data, programs, etc.) is controlled through use of a Secur ID Card , which supplies an ever-changing validation code for users to log onto the AMS system. Each system within AMS has further access control, accomplished with user IDs and passwords, and allows restricted access to view only authorized departmental data.

Departmental
Departmental access to the central AMS servers is accomplished through the proper set up of connections, local personal computer programs and authorizations.

To obtain access:

a physical connection must be established between the local PC and the central servers
access software must be installed on the local PC
authority to access the mainframe servers must be established
the user needs to log in to use the system

The AMS website contains information on the following topics:

Software Downloads & Hardware recommendations
Access to SAP and Password maintenance
System Availability (i.e. normal hours of operation and scheduled / unscheduled downtimes)

If you require additional assistance, please use the AMS help Form.

Modular Components of AMS

AMS is used to record and report data that pertain to the following general areas:

accounting, budgeting and control
sales & distribution, materials management and purchasing
personnel administration, payroll and time management
research, donation management, facilities and services, etc.

Most of the AMS components are software programs purchased from SAP (a German enterprise software company), while others are programs produced “in-house” at UofT.

This section contains diagrams and a table that together briefly describe and illustrate the various components of AMS.

Overview of the AMS Components

Printer friendly version of Overview of the AMS Components – PDF

AMS Components and their Functions

Printer friendly version of AMS Components and their Functions – PDF

AMS Components as Reflected in the SAP System

Printer friendly version of AMS Components as Reflected in the SAP System – PDF

Last revision September 2006AMS Components as Reflected in the SAP System – PDF