Is powerhouse dead?

Edis, Bob BEdis@usbnc.org
Mon, 3 Jun 2002 11:12:20 -0500


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G'day Sam
 
30 sites is a bit sad in a country the size of Oz.  What are the real stats
as per FieldFacts (active licenses) and estimates of sites with no support
license?  What about new sales in the last 2 years?  Keeping a product on
life-support is a bit different to sales growth.  I've been told that sales
of Axiant here in the USA Midwest has picked up significantly (what does
that mean?) but I haven't seen any demand for consultants as yet.
 
I used to see (2 years ago) several open PH positions in Oz at any one time
when searching the job sites.  In the last year I only seen two or three.
 
But then again Oz IS a bit different to the rest of the world in IT.  When I
see Progress 4GL consultants in high demand (enough to be put on the
immigration 'hot' list) but Progress is struggling in the USA I wonder.
 
Regards,
Blue 

-----Original Message-----
From: Clarke, Sam [mailto:Sam.Clarke@Cognos.COM]
Sent: Sunday, June 02, 2002 6:38 PM
To: 'Steve Heaslip'; powerh-l@cube.swau.edu
Subject: RE: Is powerhouse dead?


Hi Steve,
 
Not quite dead in Australia based on calls to our Help Desk, I just checked
our stats and since March 1st, 2002 , 30 different organisations in
Australia have placed PowerHouse calls and you weren't on the list.
 
Definitely down on past years, but looks like there is still life out there.
We continue to have 3 Powerhouse staff on the Help Desk in Sydney.
 
Rgds..Sam
 
Sam Clarke 
Vice President - IT, Support, Services and Marketing 
Asia Pacific Offshore 
COGNOS Pty Ltd 
Sydney, Australia 
Phone : +612 9437 6655                          
sam.clarke@cognos.com 
Fax :       +612 9438 1641                               
www.cognos.com 


Notice of Confidentiality 
This message is confidential and intended only for the recipient or
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you.

 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Heaslip [mailto:heaslips@ozemail.com.au]
Sent: Saturday, June 01, 2002 11:44 PM
To: 'Olmos, Fernando(Sericon at Alcoa)'; powerh-l@cube.swau.edu
Subject: RE: Is powerhouse dead?


It's certainly dead in Australia. You can count yourself amongst a select
few there at Alcoa, but for how much longer?
 
I've worked with PowerHouse since version 4.01D on the Vax - and it's sad to
see it going the way of the Tassie Tiger. Most of the larger companies have
replaced their in-house PowerHouse systems with the big packages, while some
of the smaller sites have re-developed their systems with tools such as
PowerBuilder etc, because Cognos was too slow off the mark with a viable
Windows version.
 
What intrigues me though is how company after company keeps making the same
mistake - they're prepared to spend tens of millions of dollars implementing
a package to replace a system that, at the very worst, probably just needs
an overhaul and an upgrade to PowerHouse Web at a fraction of the cost! And,
after they've spent those millions what have they got? A package that (if
they're lucky) does 80% of what the old system did, a room full of
consultants that charge $300 an hour but have no ability to add a new field
or change the way a particular calculation works when the business rules
change, and a capital expenditure request for several million dollars more
to buy the add-ons needed because all the reports produced by the system are
unreadable in their standard form! 
 
I suppose the problem is that company management just aren't looking at
their own IT departments (and therefore places like Cognos) for the big
solutions anymore - they've usually got one of those big accounting firms
whispering in their ears telling them that once they've signed this piece of
paper life will be easy - there'll be a flood of endorphins, there'll be
peace in the middle east and beer will be 20c a schooner again. 
 
If Cognos are serious about PowerHouse having any sort of future, they need
to start promoting their AD Toolset the way they promote the BI tools - and
not just to us propellerheads. They need to start pitching it to management
- to make management aware that there IS an alternative to spending
mega-millions on the big packages. 
 
It's too late here in Australia for the old, large PowerHouse sites as
they've now invested too much money in the packages, but maybe a new
generation of companies might pick up on PowerHouse as a development tool
that will allow them to build customised solutions at a fraction of the cost
of a package, if Cognos can get out there and market it that way.
 
I wonder if the dinosaurs had dreams like this as that meteor streaked
across the sky? :-)
 

 
Steve Heaslip.
 
 
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: powerh-l-admin@cube.swau.edu [mailto:powerh-l-admin@cube.swau.edu]On
Behalf Of Olmos, Fernando(Sericon at Alcoa)
Sent: Friday, 31 May 2002 3:45 PM
To: 'powerh-l@cube.swau.edu'
Subject: Is powerhouse dead?


How many of you are now dedicating (or already done so) your time porting
your Powerhouse system(s) to the Windows platform? It seems most large
companies have already signed on the dotted line to either have PeoplSoft,
SAP, Oracle or some other "fancy" system take over the
true-tried-and-trusted text-terminal systems. The logistics of these
exercises make ENRON crashes seem like kids play.


This message may contain privileged and/or confidential information. If you
have received this e-mail in error or are not the intended recipient, you
may not use, copy, disseminate or distribute it; do not open any
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promptly by e-mail that you have done so. Thank you.


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<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=763350416-03062002>G'day 
Sam</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN 
class=763350416-03062002></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=763350416-03062002>30 
sites is a bit sad in a country the size of Oz.&nbsp; What are the real stats as 
per FieldFacts (active licenses) and estimates of sites with no support 
license?&nbsp; What about new sales in the last 2 years?&nbsp; Keeping a product 
on life-support is a bit different to sales growth.&nbsp; I've been told that 
sales of Axiant here in the USA Midwest has picked up significantly (what does 
that mean?) but I haven't seen any demand for consultants as 
yet.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN 
class=763350416-03062002></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=763350416-03062002>I used 
to see (2 years ago) several&nbsp;open PH positions in Oz at any one time when 
searching the job sites.&nbsp; In the last year I only seen two or 
three.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN 
class=763350416-03062002></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=763350416-03062002>But 
then again Oz IS a bit different to the rest of the world in IT.&nbsp; When I 
see Progress 4GL consultants in high demand (enough to be put on the immigration 
'hot' list) but Progress is struggling in the USA I wonder.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN 
class=763350416-03062002></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN 
class=763350416-03062002>Regards,</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN 
class=763350416-03062002>Blue&nbsp;</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
  <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma 
  size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Clarke, Sam 
  [mailto:Sam.Clarke@Cognos.COM]<BR><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, June 02, 2002 6:38 
  PM<BR><B>To:</B> 'Steve Heaslip'; powerh-l@cube.swau.edu<BR><B>Subject:</B> 
  RE: Is powerhouse dead?<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=139473223-02062002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Hi 
  Steve,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=139473223-02062002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff 
  size=2></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=139473223-02062002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Not 
  quite dead in Australia based on calls to our Help Desk, I just checked our 
  stats and since March 1st, 2002 , 30 different organisations in Australia have 
  placed PowerHouse calls and you weren't on the list.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=139473223-02062002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff 
  size=2></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=139473223-02062002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff 
  size=2>Definitely down on past years, but looks like there is still life out 
  there. We continue to have 3 Powerhouse staff on the Help Desk in 
  Sydney.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=139473223-02062002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff 
  size=2></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=139473223-02062002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff 
  size=2>Rgds..Sam</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=139473223-02062002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff 
  size=2></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=139473223-02062002>
  <P><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#0000ff size=2>Sam Clarke</FONT> 
  <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#0000ff size=2>Vice President 
  -</FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#0000ff size=2> IT, Support, 
  Services and Marketing</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#0000ff 
  size=2>Asia Pacific</FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#0000ff size=2> 
  Offshore</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#0000ff size=2>COGNOS 
  Pty Ltd</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#0000ff size=2>Sydney, 
  Australia</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#0000ff size=2>Phone : 
  +612 9437 
  6655&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
  </FONT><BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#0000ff 
  size=2>sam.clarke@cognos.com</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" 
  color=#0000ff size=2>Fax :&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; +612 9438 
  1641&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
  </FONT><BR><U><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#0000ff 
  size=2>www.cognos.com</FONT></U> </P><BR>
  <P><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000000 size=2>Notice of 
  Confidentiality</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000000 
  size=2>This message is confidential and intended only for the recipient or 
  recipients named above. It may also be privileged solicitor-client 
  communication. If you are not the named recipient or a person charged with 
  delivering this message to the named recipient, you have received this message 
  in error. Immediately delete the message from your computer. Thank 
  you.</FONT></P></SPAN></DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=139473223-02062002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff 
  size=2></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=139473223-02062002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff 
  size=2></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
    <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma 
    size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Steve Heaslip 
    [mailto:heaslips@ozemail.com.au]<BR><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, June 01, 2002 
    11:44 PM<BR><B>To:</B> 'Olmos, Fernando(Sericon at Alcoa)'; 
    powerh-l@cube.swau.edu<BR><B>Subject:</B> RE: Is powerhouse 
    dead?<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=160101712-01062002>It's certainly 
    dead in Australia. You can count yourself amongst a select few there at 
    Alcoa, but for how much longer?</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN 
    class=160101712-01062002></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=160101712-01062002>I've worked with 
    PowerHouse since version 4.01D on the Vax - and it's sad to see it going the 
    way of the Tassie Tiger.&nbsp;Most of the larger companies have replaced 
    their in-house PowerHouse systems with the big packages, while some of the 
    smaller sites have re-developed their systems&nbsp;with tools such 
    as&nbsp;PowerBuilder etc, because Cognos was too slow off the mark with a 
    viable Windows version.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN 
    class=160101712-01062002></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=160101712-01062002>What intrigues 
    me though is how company after company keeps making the same mistake - 
    they're prepared to spend tens of millions of dollars implementing a package 
    to replace a system that, at the very worst, probably just needs an overhaul 
    and an upgrade to PowerHouse Web at a fraction of the cost! And, after 
    they've spent those millions what have they got? A&nbsp;package 
    that&nbsp;(if they're lucky)&nbsp;does 80% of what the old system did, a 
    room full of consultants that&nbsp;charge $300 an hour but have no ability 
    to add a new field or change the way a particular calculation works when the 
    business rules change, and a capital expenditure request for&nbsp;several 
    million dollars more to&nbsp;buy the add-ons needed because all the reports 
    produced by the system are unreadable in their standard form! 
    </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN 
    class=160101712-01062002></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=160101712-01062002>I suppose the 
    problem is that company management just aren't looking&nbsp;at their own IT 
    departments (and therefore places like Cognos) for the big solutions anymore 
    - they've usually got one of those big accounting firms whispering in their 
    ears telling them that once they've signed this piece of paper life will be 
    easy - there'll be a flood of endorphins, there'll be peace in the middle 
    east and beer will be&nbsp;20c&nbsp;a schooner 
    again.&nbsp;</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN 
    class=160101712-01062002></SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN 
    class=160101712-01062002></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=160101712-01062002>If Cognos are 
    serious about PowerHouse having any sort of future, they need to start 
    promoting their AD Toolset the way they promote the BI tools - and not just 
    to us propellerheads. They need to start pitching it to&nbsp;management - to 
    make management aware that there IS an alternative to&nbsp;spending 
    mega-millions on the big packages. </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN 
    class=160101712-01062002></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=160101712-01062002>It's too late 
    here in Australia for the old, large PowerHouse sites as they've now 
    invested too much money in the packages, but maybe a new generation of 
    companies might pick up on PowerHouse as a development tool that will allow 
    them to build customised solutions at a fraction of the cost of a package, 
    if Cognos can get out there and market it that way.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN 
    class=160101712-01062002></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=160101712-01062002>I wonder if the 
    dinosaurs had dreams like this as that meteor streaked across the sky? 
    :-)</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN 
    class=160101712-01062002></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff><SPAN class=160101712-01062002>
    <DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 
    size=2><STRONG><U></U></STRONG></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT size=+0><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#000000><FONT size=2>Steve 
    Heaslip<SPAN 
    class=160101712-01062002>.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 
    size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN 
    class=160101712-01062002></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN 
    class=160101712-01062002></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN 
    class=160101712-01062002></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma 
    size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> 
    powerh-l-admin@cube.swau.edu [mailto:powerh-l-admin@cube.swau.edu]<B>On 
    Behalf Of </B>Olmos, Fernando(Sericon at Alcoa)<BR><B>Sent:</B> Friday, 31 
    May 2002 3:45 PM<BR><B>To:</B> 'powerh-l@cube.swau.edu'<BR><B>Subject:</B> 
    Is powerhouse dead?<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>How many of you are now 
    dedicating (or already done so) your time porting your Powerhouse system(s) 
    to the Windows platform? It seems most large companies have already signed 
    on the dotted line to either have PeoplSoft, SAP, Oracle or some other 
    "fancy" system take over the true-tried-and-trusted text-terminal systems. 
    The logistics of these exercises make ENRON crashes seem like kids 
    play.</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>
  <P><FONT face=Arial size=2>This message may contain privileged and/or 
  confidential information. If you have received this e-mail in error or are not 
  the intended recipient, you may not use, copy, disseminate or distribute it; 
  do not open any attachments, delete it immediately from your system and notify 
  the sender promptly by e-mail that you have done so. Thank 
you.</FONT></P></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>

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