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With Cognos Planning - Contributor, organizations can easily engage thousands in the planning process, collecting data from managers and staff across divisions and across geographies. Many users can work simultaneously yet still enjoy rapid server response, because Contributor provides the responsiveness of a spreadsheet, with powerful data collection functionality that spreadsheets can't match. And its user-friendliness increases employee efficiency, buy-in, and commitment to plan. Contributor architecture is easy on technology resources. The client requests data from the server only as needed and saves only data that has changed. Complex calculations are performed at the client, giving users instantaneous response and sparing the server unnecessary traffic during high-use times.

  • Distributed processing. The intelligent, distributed processing of Contributor leverages a powerful Web interface that maintains fast response for thousands of concurrent users. Contributor's familiar spreadsheet look-and-feel encourages high levels of participation and collaboration.
  • Bridge the finance-to-business language gap. Contributor users enter operational data in "their own language," rather than unfamiliar financial terms. Information is then translated by preset formulas into financial data such as net income, earnings per share, or revenue per employee.
  • Accurate data. Planning information from across the enterprise is stored in a single data repository, providing an on-demand, perpetually accurate pool of planning data.
  • Instant analysis. The "breakback" feature of Contributor helps users analyse the "what-if" effects of entries across time periods, product lines, or other parameters. Input is reflected throughout the rest of their templates for instant feedback.
  • Integrated reporting. Powerful Business Intelligence tools for detailed, multi-dimensional reports and analyses are available at the click of a mouse.

A More Intelligent Way to Collect Information
Contributor users simply direct their browsers to a specified Web address, log in, and immediately gain access to a complete set of linked templates specific to their role in the planning process. Users can quickly tab through the templates, enter data where required, and evaluate information prior to submission.

  • Web-based, personalised data-entry. Contributor templates are easy to deploy and easy to use. Users only enter data that is relevant to their functional areas.
  • Flexible data entry. Templates can easily be customized by reorienting columns and rows and displaying or hiding empty or zero-filled fields.
  • Minimal training. Because Contributor is browser-based and has an intuitive interface, little or no training is required.
  • Dynamic linking. Contributor can link individual plan components in real time, providing cross-organization consistency and accuracy.
  • NetPlanning. Contributor fosters on-the-fly collaboration over the Web, even involving external contributors such as customers, suppliers, or others not normally involved in the planning and performance management process.

Streamlined Workflow Management
After entering required information, contributors either save their work to return to later, or submit it for review. At any point, reviewing managers can quickly check workflow status - not started, in progress, or ready for review - with intuitive, color-coded icons. Reviewers can also send email to groups based on hierarchy or workflow status, for example, to notify West Coast contributors when updates are due.

After work is submitted, a customizable interface displays the details of individual submissions, an overview of all submissions, or a combination of both. Aggregate totals are shown to quickly pinpoint areas that may need revision. If last minute revisions are needed, totals can be adjusted without compromising accuracy.

  • Track participation easily. Contributor automatically monitors the entire planning process and gives the status of every participant, so planning proceeds at the speed of the fastest contributor, not the slowest. Online collaborative features facilitate dialogue among participants, further shortening planning cycles.
  • Work offline. Contributor lets you plan where and when you want to, without a network connection. Contributor knows when users check out to work offline and automatically updates plans and forecasts when users check back in.
  • Advanced, flexible security. Pre-defined selection options ensure that users see only those templates - or portions of templates - that they require. Options can be set for entire business units, workgroups, even individuals. Detailed instructions, including customised headlines and drop-down boxes with optional links to Web pages, can be tailored for each template.