What functionality is included in control-CE?

A copy of the draft or master copy of a map can created and it is used for modelling and testing alternative process flows, and their costs using the Activity Based Costing (ABC) functionality.

The cost model is built by adding cost attributes to activities (duration, volumes, delays) and assigning rates to resources. Costs are dynamically calculated allowing simulation and what-if modelling.

Rules based on resource names or data table entries can determine the look and feel (colour, shadow, border) of activity boxes. One or a number of rules can be applied for more complex flow analysis (aka swimlanes).

Entire maps or portions of maps (draft vs master, master vs scenario) can be compared and differences highlighted in a side-by-side view. Either map can be updated using the "intelligent copy and paste" which manages the non-visual data such as access rights, authorisation cycle and audit trail.

A wide range of pre-defined reports are available (activity, resources, costs, change cycle, document, all objects database). Every report is delivered using a report engine which allows the layout and grouping to be customised on the fly, and stored for later use.

Every report can be exported in CSV, XLS, HTML or XML format.

A map can be exported in a format so that a Microsoft Project plan can be generated automatically, with activities, resources, durations, start and finish dates pre-populated, probably the quickest way of creating a Microsoft Project plan.

Changes to a diagram or document can be logged in at date and time stamped free text field. Some system actions are automatically logged.

Maintain a version number for all diagrams and documents

Access rights are applied by user or user group. Access can be controlled at map level, part of a map, individual diagram, and to individual metrics, documents or attachments attached to an activity box, line, image or free text. Access rights are also applied to the other databases; metrics, score cards, and documents.

Maps and documents have Master copy that is locked down (authorised) and a Draft copy that can be edited by authors with suitable access rights. The Draft and Master copies are stored and managed together to maintain integrity throughout the change cycle.

This allows suggestions for changes to be developed as a multi-user discussion thread attached to a diagram or document.

A memo can be submitted as a formal change which is managed through evaluation to implementation.

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Any number of licenced end-users can nominated by email with a URL link to the diagram or document so that they can review the changes and make comments through the web.

A sequence of authorisers is setup for a diagram or a structure (hierarchy) of diagrams, and for documents. Once an authorisation has been requested, each authoriser (end-user) is notified in turn by email with a URL link to the diagram or document, so that they can sign-off or rejection the diagrams or document. Once all sign-offs are complete, the diagrams or document are ready for promotion to the Master Copy.

The decision to promote the Draft map or document to the Master is a formal, manual step as their may be training, systems development or timing reasons to delay the Promotion. Once the map or document are nominated for Promotion, the Master Copy is archived, the Draft over-writes the Master and the version numbers of each diagram or document is incremented, emails are sent to each Subscriber and each Acknowledger, and the audit log updated.

An end user can be nominated, or can nominate themselves as a subscriber to a diagram or document. When that diagram or document changes version number they are sent an email with a URL to the changed diagram or document.

An end user can be nominated, or can nominate themselves as a acknowledger to a diagram or document. When that diagram or document changes version number they are sent an email with a URL to the changed diagram or document. They must access the diagram or document and enter their password to confirm they have seen the changes. The acknowledgement is logged.

For each diagram and document the full audit trail of authorisations and version numbers is automatically maintained.

When a map is promoted an entire copy of the map (all diagrams and attachments) is archived as a 'snapshot' so that it can be accessed at a later date.

Access to all processes, documents, links to applications and files, metrics and scorecards is available via any internet browser enabled device. The information is dynamically created, so it is always up to date. Access permission is controlled by individual user logon, or a default set of permissions for a guest logon.

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The menus, buttons and screen layouts are designed for casual, non-technical end users to encourage adoption and use. Menus and buttons are context sensitive to reduce possible confusion or 'over-load'.

The web server application is designed to drive collaborative business improvement and sign-off, quickly and easily. The change cycle is described in more detail in MANAGE

MyPage can also be the mechanism for displaying other information or applications such as workflow or automation applications.

Every end user has control over the information and position of each of the MyPage favourites.

This allows personalised favourites which enable quick access to frequently used process diagrams, documents, applications, storyboards, metrics or scorecards. The end-user can add or delete items on their MyPage, and they can be pre-configured for new users based on their job role.

Linking an end-user to one or more roles will dynamically create a list of activities and storyboards where that role is used. The end user can then navigate to the processes, making it a very visual and personalised job description.

This is a key training, change management or systems testing aid. A storyboard records the end to end flow through a series of activities boxes which may cut across functional boundaries. A storyboard is recorded by navigating through the diagrams, and highlighting each activity box. Notes can be added to each step and a step can be nominated as a key step which is used for tracking. Storyboards are created for key flows such as 'faulty product return', 'product return for credit' or 'refund against non-delivery'. As the storyboard steps through live process diagrams, the end user can access the attachments on the activity box, see the performance metrics, or read the training notes before moving to the next step.

The entire process and document database can be searched for a text string, or the search may be limited to a type of object (activity, resource, document). Alternatively a keyword search is against the keywords held for activities and documents.

Think of this as end-user PostIt notes attached to a process which can be private or made public.

The web-server is designed to make collaborative business change achievable because it is simple, intuitive and driven through a simple web-based interface. For details of the `change cycle' supported see the MANAGE section.

Access to the documents held or referenced in the Document Management solution. Documents can be accessed by category, by search or keyword search.

Scorecards are accessed through the web, with links to the corresponding metrics and the related processes.

Control 2007 has been designed to drive true collaborative end-user process improvement. This is achieved by a single copy of the information - "a single source of truth" - with a single copy of the software accessed over the web.

The repositories that store the processes, documents, resources, metrics and scorecards are accessed centrally, using an internal proprietary database technology optimised for managing process-related data. There is no need to purchase any 3rd party databases such as SQL Server or Oracle.

To eliminate the need to log onto multiple systems, Control 2007 can be integrated into the corporate infrastructure.

Emails generated by Control 2007 can be sent via the corporate email system.

SMS messages generated by Control 2007 are sent via the corporate SMS system.

There is the ability to monitor and tune the performance of the web-based application based on usage patterns.

Based on the setting of the device, the entire Control 2007 application provides the menus, screens and help in that language, provided it is available. A utility is provided to be able to tailor / customise the text provided in the standard language translations to allow tailoring for company terminology e.g change "acknowledgement" to "mandatory review"

Install control on a Citrix or Terminal Server and your authors will be able to use control without the need to install it on their computers. Especially suitable if your authors will be accessing control from multiple locations around the world or are likely to be on slow internet connections.

An online manual is automatically installed and easily accessible from control-CE

Tutorial maps are included with your download to help you get the most out of control-CE

A quick start guide is included to help get you mapping as soon as possible.

Users of Control 2007 are entitled to telephone and email support as part of the maintainance agreement.