Visibility, Accountability, Confidence: Implementing Cognos 8 BI

An interview with Jeff Brandt of the Canada Firearms Centre

The Canada Firearms Center recently implemented Cognos 8 Business Intelligence (BI). Jeff Brandt, Registrar of Firearms, explains in this interview how the use of the Cognos Solutions Implementation Methodology (Cognos SIM) was a key success factor for their project which moved 125 users from Oracle Reports to Cognos 8 BI. The Cognos SIM is a standardized set of structured steps, tools, proven practices, role definitions, and techniques that can be applied to any Cognos deployment, regardless of its purpose or scope.

SL: In general terms, how did the Cognos SIM help the CAFC during their Cognos 8 BI implementation?

JB: I’m on the business side of the house, so for me the use of the Cognos SIM really helped me better understand what the IT side was doing. It gave me visibility into all the details; helping me understand what we were doing and what methods we were using, including testing. This provided a high degree of confidence in the implementation process.

That’s benefit point number 1: providing the business visibility into what is typically an IT initiative.

The second benefit is the comfort it provides to senior management; allowing them to follow the project’s progress and providing the opportunity to approve what is happening next.

The Cognos SIM provides stakeholders with visibility into the project, accountability for deliverables and confidence in the whole implementation process.

SL: How did you make use the Cognos SIM during your Cognos 8 BI implementation?

JB: We utilized a document for each phase of the Cognos SIM. This included a “Technical Review” document during the Analyze phase; a “Customer Success Plan” during the Design phase; a “Detailed Design” document during the Build and Deploy phases; and a “Go Forward Plan” during the Operate phase.

SL: What benefits did you realize from using these documents?

JB: These documents and the process outlined, allowed senior management to become more involved in the project. Each one gave me an opportunity to go to senior management because each one is a deliverable in and of itself. It communicated what we had done in the previous phase and what we were going to do in the next. Management could easily monitor the progress that had been made and it gave them a decision point for what would happen in the future.

SL: What role did Cognos consultants play in the implementation?

JB: Tim Quigg, a Cognos consultant, was our architect. We worked with him through each one of the Cognos SIM documents, making sure that the BI solution was going to meet the business needs in a technically feasible way. It proved to be a great opportunity for the business and IT sides of the organization to work together collaboratively to reach our common goals.

SL: How did the Cognos SIM contribute to fostering collaboration between business and IT departments?

JB: For each stage of the project, a number of decisions have to be made. By putting all of the Cognos SIM documents together, both groups have insight into the issues the ‘other guy’ is facing and it prevents people from making decisions in isolation. When both sides are aware of each others’ issues, they work together better to find solutions that fit for everyone.

SL: Would you recommend the Cognos SIM to others?

JB: I would certainly recommend the methodology. I think that every project needs good solid planning and checkpoints for management. This methodology was perfect for us. It was designed for our BI implementation and if we are ever going take on another project like this, I would certainly use this methodology. It was extremely helpful.