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November 18, 2003

The Information Supply Network

Iteration and collaboration are hallmarks of information value-add

by Jeanette Burriesci

In the days of vertical integration, a supply chain really did resemble a chain. At least, the metaphor wasn't as wildly unsuitable then as it is today. Sure, you can mentally isolate a supply chain, but you have to ignore too much of the messy reality: short product life cycles forcing a delicate dance to avoid gluts and shortages alike, collaborative manufacturing making the constant exchange of precise information critical to final execution, and so on. "Supply chain mail" is more like it.

Creation of information products should often be at least as nonlinear as that of hard goods. The information value chain that this issue's cover story describes is, in fact, not a chain but a network. The ideal BI network is projected to be unattainable until 2008, but Lelia Morrill and Hemant Warudkar tell you how to reap some benefits from the concept now, at low cost, with a homegrown BI network infrastructure.

The feedback and sharing aspects of the BI network are also critical to a project General Dynamics has been working on for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. From a vast array of data, most of it unstructured, the information sharing and analysis center exists to detect early indications of material trends. The concept is widely applicable in the private sector as well. Lisa Sokol, the technical director of that project, provides details of its creation.

From information loops to information dead-ends: Why won't the spreadsheet duels stop? Philip Russom examines the love/hate relationship enterprises have with Excel and urges the BI world to try coexisting with spreadsheets rather than uprooting them. That temperate attitude is echoed in Frank J. Bernhard's feature on corporate governance. As the pendulum of public sentiment swings toward tighter control of business, enterprises are in danger of suffocating themselves with compliance policies. A large burden falls on the CIO to respond appropriately to government demands, and Bernhard offers guidance.

Readers' Choice Awards

Please take a look at this year's Readers' Choice Award winners to find out what products the majority of your fellow subscribers favored in 32 categories.

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Perhaps it's a symptom of disgruntlement among supply chain management software users, but we couldn't get enough of you to vote for an SCM vendor! For that reason, we decided for the first time ever to remove a category from the awards. Participation was generally down this year, so we're hatching some ideas to encourage more readers to vote next year. Write to us with your suggestions at iemagazine@cmp.com.