Enterprise Performance Management - Data is First Priority

Today Patni Computer Systems launched Inventory Liability And Risk Management Dashboard in collaboration with SAP. Detail news released says that "The solution, built on top of the SAP Supply Network Collaboration (SAP SNC) application and leveraging the SAP BusinessObjects Xcelsius Enterprise software, helps enterprises calculate in near real time the monetary value of the inventory which is at risk at any given point across the supply chain." "“Built on top of SAP SNC and leveraging SAP BusinessObjects Xcelsius Enterprise, the solution addresses a key challenge faced by high-tech OEMs in the current economic environment,” said Holger Fritzinger, vice president, industry business unit high tech, SAP Labs LLC. “By deploying this solution, high-tech OEMs will be able to exercise better visibility and control of their critical inventory and suppliers.” Still to watch demo. Let me dig this some more and I will come back with an opinion. -Prashant

Satyam had seen phenomenol growth in last few years, worldwide customer base, soaring share prices, large scale investment plans, big company size, multi million dollar contracts and what not. Everybody saw it crumbling down the day Raju announced mis deeds, and everybody thought its all gone - some foreign media even termd it as INDIAs ENRON. So picture was like enron is gone so satyam will. Today satyam is still there, up and running with new thoughful leadership of mahindras, solid organizational backup, people willing to do business. Whatever will happen to culprits, debts and lawsuits - its still there - firm and solid. Question is WHY? Because in its first few weeks of problem - it got able leadership of indutry czars, a clear governance model setup and steering through indian government, a process to get it out of all negatives and providing it new owner. Now another question is - Why the same cannot happen to AIR INDIA. The situation is same. Nobody - not any single person - di

The webinar that I mentioned about in one of my post earlier, Bristlecone Webinar where Jason, Naresh and Padmini explained how the risk is important factor to look for, how a Supply Chain consulting company like Bristlecone can help you in managing supplier risk and provide you a solution that SAP came up with. It was a indeed very good conversation to listen. You will see more in coming days on this blog about supply chain risk and how people should be doing that in bad times like this. Those who missed this webinar should visit this link here and click on view archive button. The entire event is available on windows media player. -Prashant pmendki(at)gmail(dot)com

Since last one week there is a interesting conversation going on in the blogsphere - not in general - but the procurement, strategic sourcing areas - between Jason Buch of Spendmatters and Debbi Wilson of Gartner . Its all started with Jason writing an article how gartner abandoned a blog taking a dig at debbie,and debbie answered it here . Though I am enjoying most of the readings and comments and counter comments here , I think this more than between Jason and Debbie. Its good that they brought a biggest question in this industry where so called big analysts and advisors are influencing and driving decision making in the industry. I am not sure to what extent all this can be avoided as vendors try to be close to these analysts to get the opinion in favor and industry leaders look for them to get the "good" advice. So in between analysts fetch too important and decisive role to play with both. Now one has to keep in mind that these analysts are human naturally driven

Recently blackenterprises.com published their list for 2009 Best Companies for Diversity , listing companies who are doing business with different diversity groups like employee base, board of directors, senior management and suppliers. From strategic sourcing initiative its very important to identify the diversity status of your supplier, have visibility towards your diversity supplier base. Its not just legal apsect but social and economic aspect as well. You should be able to see and analyze how much of your vendor base is governmant certified small business, is it minority owned, hispanic, asian owned, woman owned, is 8a certified, hubzone certified.......There might be a individual certified business. To have this visibility, you need to have your data in correct and updated shape. How many IT guys or business people care about this? You might have done this updation once, but what if EXIT DATE of the certification is crossed and vendor no more belong to that category? Or what