Transcript Implementing Cognos ReportNet at Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada Ahead

Implementing Cognos ReportNet at
Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada
An Analysis of the Road
Ahead
Jon-Michael Falconer
3B Math/Business,
Former Co-op Student with Integrated Business
Solutions Team, AAFC
Nov. 16, 2005
Objectives
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To provide an overview of Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) purchase of a
reporting tool to improve end-user reporting
capability
To provide insight into information systems
development issues in the public sector
Outline
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History
Overview of ReportNet
Expected Benefits
Challenges ahead
History
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AAFC Integrated Business Delivery Strategy
(IBDS)
AAFC delivers over 50 programs and services
to producers
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Transaction-based programs
Proposal-based programs
other programs...
Most programs had their own separate
information system
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Data redundancy issues
Data existed in “silos”
Little to no existing reporting capability
History (cont’d)
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IBDS is being implemented to address:
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front-end processes
back-end processes
Some IT projects covered by the IBDS include:
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Web site renovation
Call centre consolidation
Data management strategy
Decision Support initiatives
Common Producer Database (CPD)
Common Producer Database
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A data warehouse
A single, enterprise-wide repository of data
on farmers
Keeps track of:
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“Tombstone” information
Program application data
Other data
History (cont’d)
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Modern Comptrollership
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Broader Government of Canada initiative
“Modern comptrollership supports the effective
stewardship of resources of all types throughout the
federal government…It is about working smarter for
better results: better informed decisions, better
public policies and better service delivery.”
-Treasury Board Secretariat
History (cont’d)
How can we easily access financial, HR,
and performance data to aid in decision
making?
Reporting software!
Cognos ReportNet
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Highlights
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Web services-based architecture
Incorporates dashboards
Multilingual
2 main modules:
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Query Studio
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Simple, ad hoc queries
– Ideal for business users
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Report Studio
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More powerful, sophisticated reporting
– Ideal for report authors
Expected Benefits
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Quick access to data
User-friendly access to data
Access to consistent data
All to enhance Decision Support capabilities
Challenges Ahead
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Data Issues
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Data redundancy
Refining data definitions
Data cleansing
Establishing a Data Management Strategy
Complying with Access to Information and Privacy
Act (ATIP)
Challenges Ahead (cont’d)
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Organizational issues
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Getting full support from senior management
Avoiding excessive consulting costs
Excessive client consultation vs. inadequate
consultation
Overcoming bureaucracy
Challenges Ahead (cont’d)
References
From Cognos:
 http://www.cognos.com/products/business_intelligence/reporting/
 http://www.cognos.com/products/cognos8businessintelligence/dashbo
ards.html
From Government of Canada
 http://www.agr.gc.ca/csb/dpr-rsr/2004/index_e.php?page=11
 http://www.agr.gc.ca/csb/sm-gs/mafc_e.php
 http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/cmo_mfc/Intro2/intro_e.asp
Other resources
 http://www.dmreview.com/article_sub.cfm?articleId=1035317