Using Project Management Software and Planning for Business Intelligence (BI) and BPM
by Mark Phillips - November 6th, 2006Project planning and project scheduling can be valuable tools in business intelligence (BI) or business performance management (BPM).
On the solutions side, project management software, particularly easier to use online project management software tools can generate powerful business intelligence and process optimization conclusions.
A previous post discussed the three key variables used to set a realistic due-date.
1) A defined process
2) Defined task durations
3) Resource availability/performance
These three keys, along with the due-date itself, are really all variables that can be used to make sophisticated, well-informed business intelligence or project decisions.
You can use any three of these variables to solve for the value of the fourth, like a mathematical equation -project algebra.
Project Plan as Reality Check
In the first case discussed above, we assumed to know the value of all variables, including the due-date, which is the desired outcome. The project plan or schedule in this case was more like a reality check than the solution to a particular problem.
Project Plan to Find a Due-Date
But in other cases, a project manager or team leader may be trying to figure out when a realistic due date is, so they map out the particular tasks or steps that need to be taken, plug in the amount of resources available, plug in the duration each task should take and presto, get a due-date or expected delivery date for the project.
Using a Project Plan for Resource Allocation Decisions
Or, a project manager may be interested in finding out how many people or resources it will take to finish a project by a specific date. In this case, the project manager or planner maps out the steps it takes to complete the project, holds the due-date as fixed, plugs in how long each step or task needs to take to get the project delivered by the defined due-date and therefore figures out how many people they need on each task so that those tasks can be completed in time to meet the due date. Presto -like magic.
Using Planning for Process Improvement
This can even go a step farther, into the realm of process optimization, corporate or process restructuring or overall business performance management and improvement by holding all other performance variables constant and having the process itself be the variable for which the manager is looking to solve.
This is the classic problem faced by competitive business everyday. How can we do what we need to do better?
Sometimes the question is how can we do it with the people/resources available, sometimes the question is how can be do it will less people or different people or faster. But it’s the same equation. The plan, project management, and project management software, can be crucial tools of business intelligence and for improved business decision making and overall business performance management.
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