Cognos, Inc.

International Business Machines Corporation

Adaytum, Inc.

Adam Thier

Jon M Sandles

George Duncan Pearson

Michael Gould

In general, the invention is directed to enterprise planning techniques for developing an enterprise planning model that incorporate horizontal as well as vertical planning techniques. A subset of analysts associated with a common node of an enterprise hierarchy may define an enterprise planning session for the node that incorporates a plurality of enterprise planning activities. For example, a first analyst may define a sub-model for revenue planning and a second analyst may define a sub-model for salary planning. The enterprise planning system automatically aggregates the sub-models defined by subsets of analysts to obtain an enterprise-wide planning model. In this manner, the set of analysts may define an enterprise planning model that may allow large, diverse organizations to establish planning standards for multiple planning activities across dozens or hundreds of business units.

Horizontal enterprise planning in accordance with an enterprise planning model

In general, the invention is directed to techniques for developing an enterprise planning model in cascaded planning stages. For example, an enterprise planning system receives data that defines an enterprise planning session from a set of analysts in cascaded planning stages. The analysts associated with each subsequent planning stage refine the enterprise planning model defined by analysts associated with previous planning stages. In this manner, the set of analysts may define an enterprise planning model that may allow large, diverse organizations to establish planning standards across dozens or hundreds of business units, while allowing the business units to extend the planning standards to further refine the planning sessions.

Cascaded planning of an enterprise planning model

An enterprise business planning system includes a database having a relational data area and a transactional data area, and a server to store within the transactional data area contribution data received from a set of enterprise contributors. The server publishes the contribution data from the transactional data area to the relational data area. The transactional data area may include a set of contribution slots and a set of aggregations slots hierarchically related in accordance with an enterprise model. The relational area includes a set of related tables defined in accordance with the model. The transactional data area supports real-time interaction with the enterprise contributors, while the relational data area allows detailed statistical analysis and report generation.

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Eden Prairie, MN, United States of America

Adam Thier