Frangere .. Decision support in many dimensions or .. How to break the old spread sheet approach

Abstract

This paper describes FRANGERE IBM's new technique for providing decision support for the planning and control process. It provides management information from a multi-dimensional data structure which the user can viewf along any dimensions as a series of 'pages or spread-sheets. The information in this structure can be summarised upwards, 'broken back downwards, or moved sideways, between files on different computers and in different parts of the world. In addition, the planning information in this mu1ti-dimensiona1 structure can be compared with the 'actual' figures held elsewhere on computer files, and in totally different formats. The package provides full-screen support on coloured screens, full system 'help' facilities, and understandable error messages.lt provides a large set of pictorial and tabular reports and is a system which the new user can grow into gradually, learning the more advanced facilities at a speed that matches his desires.