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Careful EPM
22nd November 2007 > iWeek
5 tough questions to ask your EPM vendor.
Enterprise performance management (EPM) technology can extend the power of performance management across the enterprise, helping companies align their corporate strategy to core business processes and results. But success depends on a several factors. You need to ask your vendor the following questions:
1. WHAT IS THE TRACK RECORD OF YOUR EPM OFFERING?
The real value of EPM is that it enables the development of consistent, actionable decision-making processes, while breaking down internal barriers to improving the financial and operational performance of the organisation. Ask the vendor if they have implemented EPM systems for large corporates. Can they demonstrate that these implementations have transformed complex organisations by enabling them to align and measure individual and group behaviour against high-level strategy and corporate goals?
2. WHO ARE YOUR CLIENTS AND ARE THEY REFERENCEABLE?
Does the vendor have satisfied clients with sites that are referenceable on request? What experience do they have with various aspects of EPM implementations?
3. DO YOU HAVE SUFFICIENT PEOPLE TO IMPLEMENT THE OFFERING, AND DO THEY LEAN TO THE BUSINESS OR TECHNICAL SIDE?
Cross-functional skills are key. Does the vendor have a highly diversified team that comprises both business knowledge and technology skills, with members who come from accounting and IT backgrounds, for example?
4. WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH TO EPM IMPLEMENTATIONS?
EPM is about designing and implementing pervasive systems that touch all the right groups and integrate the most meaningful processes. As a result, a methodical approach is required, beginning with the development of a comprehensive understanding of the clients' business requirements and then applying EPM best practices.
5. HOW WOULD YOU FACILITATE THE KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER TO US, THE CLIENT?
Ensure that your vendor commits to documenting the entire EPM roll-out and providing you with all supporting documentation. It is also the duty of the vendor to ascertain that the client is fully conversant with the solution at the time of handover.
