A distributed planning & control management information system for multi-site organizations

Abstract

This paper describes the design, development and deployment challenges facing an implementation of an enterprisewide distributed web-based Planning, Budgeting and Reporting Control Management Information System for a large public utility organization. The system serves the needs of all departments of the company's General Division of Production. The departments of the division are situated all over the Greek state with many geographically remote plants under the control of the division. To speed-up the exchange of Management Information between the various levels of the hierarchy regarding daily, monthly, or longer-term reports on the operational level, a portal was set-up that enabled all levels of management personnel to have controlled access to constantly updated information about operations, strategic goals and actions. A new planning and budgeting system for controlling operational, investment, and personnel expenses based on the Activity-Based Costing (ABC) & Budgeting model was then integrated into the portal to provide a web-based Planning Budgeting & Reporting Control MIS. The system is capable of handling many thousands of requests per hour for internal reports, graphs, set goals etc. and allows the seamless collaboration and coordination between all departments in the organizational hierarchy. © 2007 Springer.