Implementing Cognos ReportNet at Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada

An Analysis of the Road Ahead

Jon-Michael Falconer3B Math/Business,Former Co-op Student with Integrated Business Solutions Team, AAFC

Nov. 16, 2005

Objectives

To provide an overview of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) purchase of a reporting tool to improve end-user reporting capability

To provide insight into information systems development issues in the public sector

Outline

History Overview of ReportNet Expected Benefits Challenges ahead

History

AAFC Integrated Business Delivery Strategy (IBDS)

AAFC delivers over 50 programs and services to producers

Transaction-based programs Proposal-based programs other programs...

Most programs had their own separate information system

Data redundancy issues Data existed in “silos” Little to no existing reporting capability

History (cont’d)

IBDS is being implemented to address:– front-end processes– back-end processes

Some IT projects covered by the IBDS include:– Web site renovation– Call centre consolidation– Data management strategy– Decision Support initiatives– Common Producer Database (CPD)

Common Producer Database

A data warehouse A single, enterprise-wide repository of data

on farmers Keeps track of:

– “Tombstone” information– Program application data– Other data

History (cont’d)

Modern Comptrollership– Broader Government of Canada initiative

“Modern comptrollership supports the effective stewardship of resources of all types throughout the federal government…It is about working smarter for better results: better informed decisions, better public policies and better service delivery.”

-Treasury Board Secretariat

History (cont’d)

How can we easily access financial, HR, and performance data to aid in decision

making?

Reporting software!

Cognos ReportNet

Highlights– Web services-based architecture– Incorporates dashboards– Multilingual– 2 main modules:

Query Studio– Simple, ad hoc queries– Ideal for business users

Report Studio– More powerful, sophisticated reporting– Ideal for report authors

Expected Benefits

Quick access to data User-friendly access to data Access to consistent data

All to enhance Decision Support capabilities

Challenges Ahead

Data Issues– Data redundancy– Refining data definitions– Data cleansing– Establishing a Data Management Strategy– Complying with Access to Information and Privacy

Act (ATIP)

Challenges Ahead (cont’d)

Organizational issues– Getting full support from senior management– Avoiding excessive consulting costs– Excessive client consultation vs. inadequate

consultation– Overcoming bureaucracy

Challenges Ahead (cont’d)

References

From Cognos: http://www.cognos.com/products/business_intelligence/reporting/ http://www.cognos.com/products/cognos8businessintelligence/

dashboards.html

From Government of Canada http://www.agr.gc.ca/csb/dpr-rsr/2004/index_e.php?page=11 http://www.agr.gc.ca/csb/sm-gs/mafc_e.php http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/cmo_mfc/Intro2/intro_e.asp

Other resources http://www.dmreview.com/article_sub.cfm?articleId=1035317