The Evolution of a CPM System

The definition of corporate performance management (CPM) has been consistent since industry analysts Gartner Research introduced CPM in 2001.

Despite this stability in definition, CPM as a practice has evolved greatly since 2001. Many companies from the Global 3500 and major public sector organizations have embraced the vision of CPM. They understand the value of enabling and engaging everyone in an organization to manage the organization's performance. They are deploying technologies and solutions to make that vision real.

Today, these thought leaders generally agree that from a technology perspective, CPM means an integration and automation of:

• Scorecarding
• Business intelligence (or decision support), including financial reporting and consolidation
• Planning.

These technology areas are key to CPM's value in letting organizations answer their essential business decisions. While people may have any number of decisions to make during the business day, they depend on answers to these fundamental questions:

• How are we doing?
• Why?
• What should we be doing?

CPM's real value is found in the seamless way decision-makers can move among these fundamental questions. The single, integrated technology platform is vital, so important in fact, that the practical definition of CPM became the integration and automation of scorecarding, business intelligence, and planning.

	See an expanded version of the CPM technology platform.

The CPM System
Companies, analysts, and thought leaders have moved from 2001's CPM vision to today addressing the vision with CPM technologies. We now see the next step in this evolution, delivering a CPM system.

Cognos is complementing its solid, integrated technology platform for CPM with a whole-product approach. The company is pursuing this evolution with partners and thought leaders. Together, we are defining the "sweet spots" for CPM-where a CPM methodology can have highest impact. We are also developing and offering the pre-built solutions that can take advantage of those sweet spots. This whole-product approach comprises:

• Technology Platform—through integrated capabilities.
• Solutions—covering departmental, industry, and enterprise-wide performance management needs.
• Best practices—planning, reporting, and metrics templates developed through the Cognos Innovation Center for Performance Management.
• Partner ecosystem—building performance management solutions on the Cognos platform.

Learn more about the value of a CPM system: Understand, Manage, and Improve your business.

Read the Cognos white paper, The Evolution of the CPM System