Press Releases

SAN MATEO, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—June 13, 2006—Ventana Research, the leading research and advisory services firm, announces the release of the 2006 Ventana Research Scorecard Performance Management Vendor and Product Scorecard, an assessment of over 15 vendors each covering products that were assessed with 337 questions and 46 functional capabilities.

The results show that Extensity was ranked as the overall leader as a software vendor with technology capabilities to enable Performance Management and tied for top position in areas of Optimizing and Understanding performance. Cognos ranked in first place for Aligning performance while SymphonyRPM was tied for top spot in Optimizing and Understanding performance and Actuate tied for top spot in Understanding performance.

"The importance of applying information technology to help organizations manage performance has been more critical as our market research has shown the lack of applied information technology has resulted in less than optimal results," said Mark Smith, CEO and EVP of Research, Ventana Research.  "The Performance Management Scorecard has become a critical piece of research for organizations to reduce the risk, time and costs in making critical decisions on vendors and products."

The scoring was broken down into the categories of Align, Optimize and Understand.  These three steps are the foundation of Ventana Research’s Performance Management methodology, PerformanceCycleTM.  The scorecard is independent and objective research that is based on factual analysis of vendors and their products, and is not sponsored.

Here is a summary of the findings for the overall ranking as well as rankings to each of the key steps in PerformanceCycle:

Overall – Leaders in Performance Management in the overall category are ranked in the following order with Extensity, SymphonyRPM, Cognos, Business Objects and Oracle.  Extensity ranks as the overall winner with Extensity MPC Corporate Performance Management 7.1 which had a 95% compliance to the questions followed by SymphonyRPM 4.7 at 94%, Cognos 8 BI Professional at 91% followed by Business Objects EPM BusinessObjects Enterprise Premium Bundle XI Release 2 (86.4 percent) and Oracle BI Suite Enterprise Edition and Standard Edition (85.8 percent combined).

Align – Focusing on ensuring recommended actions and plans are on the direct path for reaching the goals, objectives and initiatives set out by executives and management, the leaders in Performance Management are ranked in the following order with Cognos, Extensity, Softscape, SymphonyRPM and Pilot Software.  Cognos ranked highest with Cognos 8 BI Professional which had a 98% compliance to the questions followed by Extensity MPC Corporate Performance Management 7.1 at 95%, Softscape Apex 2006 at 92%, SymphonyRPM at 91% and Pilot Software at 88%..

Optimize - Focusing on planning for future actions and decisions to define the goals, objectives and initiatives as set out in the align step, the leaders in Performance Management for this category are ranked in the following order Extensity, SymphonyRPM, Business Objects, Epistemic, Oracle and Clarity Systems. Extensity and Symphony RPM ranked at 95.65% compliance with Extensity MPC Corporate Performance Management 7.1 and SymphonyRPM 4.7, followed by Business Objects at 84%, Epistemic 79%, Oracle at 78% and Clarity Systems at 75%.

Understand - Focusing on reviewing the historical performance of people and processes, this step enables you to understand how results impact the organization, the leaders in Performance Management for this category are ranked in the following order Actuate, Extensity, SymphonyRPM, Cognos, Epistemic, Oracle, Business Objects, Softscape and Vanguard Solutions.  Actuate, Extensity and SymphonyRPM ranked the same at 95.65% compliance with Actuate iServer e.Spreadsheet, Extensity MPC Corporate Performance Management 7.1, SymphonyRPM 4.7. Close behind came four vendors, all at 95 percent: Cognos, Epistemic, Information Builders and Oracle.

The executive summary will be distributed to major media channel partners of Ventana Research that currently reaches over 2 million readers across business and IT professionals.  Get an executive summary of the study results and a list of participating vendors at www.ventanaresearch.com/2006scorecard.  This research is available to Ventana Research Performance Management Community members, which is complimentary with registration at www.ventanaresearch.com.  The full report is available for purchase or through Ventana Research strategic workshop and assessment services. This research will be updated twice a year to accommodate new vendors and products as well as product enhancements.

About Ventana Research

Ventana Research is the leading Performance Management research and advisory services firm.  By providing expert insight and detailed guidance, Ventana Research helps clients operate their companies more efficiently and effectively. These business improvements are delivered through a top-down approach that connects people, process, information and technology.  What makes Ventana Research different from other analyst firms is a focus on Performance Management for finance, operations and IT. This focus, plus research as a foundation and reach into a community of over two million corporate executives through extensive media partnerships, allows Ventana Research to deliver a high-value, low-risk method for achieving optimal business performance.  To learn how Ventana Research Performance Management workshops, assessments and advisory services can impact your bottom line, visit www.ventanaresearch.com.

Media Contact: Marisela Reynoso  

(925) 242-2579 marketing@ventanaresearch.com