Is powerhouse dead?
Steve Heaslip
heaslips@ozemail.com.au
Tue, 4 Jun 2002 12:55:00 +1000
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Hi Sam,
When I said I believed PowerHouse was "certainly dead in Australia" I meant
in terms of it's future. I realise that there are still quite a few sites
out there doing great things with PowerHouse (such as the University of New
England), but their numbers don't seem to be increasing.
I think everyone on this list agrees that PowerHouse as a mainframe 4GL is a
bloody good product. But these days that's not good enough - no-one wants
terminal based interfaces anymore. Even an application written for the
tea-lady to keep track of her tea towels has to run under Windows and be web
enabled.
And Cognos have answered the call and upgraded PowerHouse to do just that -
but no-one is picking up on it. So what is the problem? Is the product not
good enough? Or is the marketing not good enough?
To my mind:-
If the product is great, the marketing dept should be out there pushing it
for all it's worth.
If the product isn't so great, then the marketing dept should be out there
trying twice as hard to push it while the development guys try to get it up
to scratch. (It works for Microsoft!)
Either way I still stand by my opinion that Cognos needs to be much more
active in promoting the AD Toolset if they're serious about it's future.
And, as I also said previously, I believe that marketing needs to be pitched
to management as an alternative to packaged solutions, as well as to IT
techies as an alternative to other development tools.
Steve Heaslip.
-----Original Message-----
From: Clarke, Sam [mailto:Sam.Clarke@Cognos.COM]
Sent: Monday, 3 June 2002 9:38 AM
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
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.
-----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
attachments, delete it immediately from your system and notify the sender
promptly by e-mail that you have done so. Thank you.
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<DIV><SPAN class=3D540283402-03062002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>Hi=20
Sam,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D540283402-03062002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D540283402-03062002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>When I=20
said I believed PowerHouse was "certainly dead in Australia" I meant in =
terms of=20
it's future. I realise that there are still quite a few sites out there =
doing=20
great things with PowerHouse (such as the University of New England), =
but their=20
numbers don't seem to be increasing. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D540283402-03062002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D540283402-03062002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>I=20
think everyone on this list agrees that PowerHouse as a mainframe 4GL is =
a=20
bloody good product. But these days that's not good enough - no-one =
wants=20
terminal based interfaces anymore. Even an application written for the =
tea-lady=20
to keep track of her tea towels has to run under Windows and be web =
enabled. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D540283402-03062002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>And=20
Cognos have answered the call and upgraded PowerHouse to do just that - =
but=20
no-one is picking up on it. So what is the problem? Is the product not =
good=20
enough? Or is the marketing not good enough? </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D540283402-03062002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D540283402-03062002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>To my=20
mind:-</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D540283402-03062002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>If the=20
product is great, the marketing dept should be out there pushing it for =
all it's=20
worth.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D540283402-03062002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>If the=20
product isn't so great, then the marketing dept should be out there =
trying twice=20
as hard to push it while the development guys try to get it up to=20
scratch. (It works for Microsoft!)</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D540283402-03062002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=3D540283402-03062002><FONT =
face=3DArial=20
color=3D#0000ff size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D540283402-03062002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>Either=20
way I still stand by my opinion that Cognos needs to be much more active =
in=20
promoting the AD Toolset if they're serious about it's=20
future. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=3D540283402-03062002><FONT =
face=3DArial=20
color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>And, as I also said previously, I believe that =
marketing=20
needs to be pitched to management as an alternative to packaged =
solutions, as=20
well as to IT techies as an alternative to other development tools. =
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D540283402-03062002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D540283402-03062002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D540283402-03062002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>Steve=20
Heaslip.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D540283402-03062002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D540283402-03062002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D540283402-03062002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#000000=20
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D540283402-03062002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#000000 =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV></FONT></SPAN>
<DIV class=3DOutlookMessageHeader dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT =
face=3DTahoma=20
size=3D2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Clarke, Sam=20
[mailto:Sam.Clarke@Cognos.COM]<BR><B>Sent:</B> Monday, 3 June 2002 9:38=20
AM<BR><B>To:</B> 'Steve Heaslip'; =
powerh-l@cube.swau.edu<BR><B>Subject:</B> RE:=20
Is powerhouse dead?<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D139473223-02062002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>Hi=20
Steve,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D139473223-02062002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D139473223-02062002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>Not=20
quite dead in Australia based on calls to our Help Desk, I just checked =
our=20
stats and since March 1st, 2002 , 30 different organisations in =
Australia have=20
placed PowerHouse calls and you weren't on the list.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D139473223-02062002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D139473223-02062002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>Definitely down on past years, but looks like there is still =
life out=20
there. We continue to have 3 Powerhouse staff on the Help Desk in=20
Sydney.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D139473223-02062002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D139473223-02062002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>Rgds..Sam</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D139473223-02062002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D139473223-02062002>
<P><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>Sam =
Clarke</FONT> <BR><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>Vice President =
-</FONT><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3D#0000ff size=3D2> IT, Support, Services =
and=20
Marketing</FONT> <BR><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>Asia=20
Pacific</FONT><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3D#0000ff size=3D2> =
Offshore</FONT>=20
<BR><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>COGNOS Pty =
Ltd</FONT>=20
<BR><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>Sydney, =
Australia</FONT>=20
<BR><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>Phone : +612 =
9437=20
6655 &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p; =20
</FONT><BR><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3D#0000ff=20
size=3D2>sam.clarke@cognos.com</FONT> <BR><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" =
color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>Fax : +612 =
9438=20
1641 &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p; =20
</FONT><BR><U><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3D#0000ff=20
size=3D2>www.cognos.com</FONT></U> </P><BR>
<P><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Notice of=20
Confidentiality</FONT> <BR><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" =
color=3D#000000=20
size=3D2>This message is confidential and intended only for the =
recipient or=20
recipients named above. It may also be privileged solicitor-client=20
communication. If you are not the named recipient or a person charged =
with=20
delivering this message to the named recipient, you have received this =
message=20
in error. Immediately delete the message from your computer. Thank=20
you.</FONT></P></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D139473223-02062002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D139473223-02062002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=3DOutlookMessageHeader dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT =
face=3DTahoma=20
size=3D2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Steve Heaslip=20
[mailto:heaslips@ozemail.com.au]<BR><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, June 01, =
2002 11:44=20
PM<BR><B>To:</B> 'Olmos, Fernando(Sericon at Alcoa)';=20
powerh-l@cube.swau.edu<BR><B>Subject:</B> RE: Is powerhouse=20
dead?<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN class=3D160101712-01062002>It's =
certainly=20
dead in Australia. You can count yourself amongst a select few there =
at Alcoa,=20
but for how much longer?</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D160101712-01062002></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN class=3D160101712-01062002>I've =
worked with=20
PowerHouse since version 4.01D on the Vax - and it's sad to see it =
going the=20
way of the Tassie Tiger. Most of the larger companies have =
replaced their=20
in-house PowerHouse systems with the big packages, while some of the =
smaller=20
sites have re-developed their systems with tools such=20
as PowerBuilder etc, because Cognos was too slow off the mark =
with a=20
viable Windows version.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D160101712-01062002></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN class=3D160101712-01062002>What =
intrigues me=20
though is how company after company keeps making the same mistake - =
they're=20
prepared to spend tens of millions of dollars implementing a package =
to=20
replace a system that, at the very worst, probably just needs an =
overhaul and=20
an upgrade to PowerHouse Web at a fraction of the cost! And, after =
they've=20
spent those millions what have they got? A package that (if =
they're=20
lucky) does 80% of what the old system did, a room full of =
consultants=20
that charge $300 an hour but have no ability to add a new field =
or change=20
the way a particular calculation works when the business rules change, =
and a=20
capital expenditure request for several million dollars more =
to buy=20
the add-ons needed because all the reports produced by the system are=20
unreadable in their standard form! </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D160101712-01062002></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN class=3D160101712-01062002>I =
suppose the=20
problem is that company management just aren't looking at their =
own IT=20
departments (and therefore places like Cognos) for the big solutions =
anymore -=20
they've usually got one of those big accounting firms whispering in =
their ears=20
telling them that once they've signed this piece of paper life will be =
easy -=20
there'll be a flood of endorphins, there'll be peace in the middle =
east and=20
beer will be 20c a schooner again. </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D160101712-01062002></SPAN></FONT><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D160101712-01062002></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN class=3D160101712-01062002>If =
Cognos are=20
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=20
us propellerheads. They need to start pitching it to management - =
to make=20
management aware that there IS an alternative to spending =
mega-millions=20
on the big packages. </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D160101712-01062002></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN class=3D160101712-01062002>It's =
too late here=20
in Australia for the old, large PowerHouse sites as they've now =
invested too=20
much money in the packages, but maybe a new generation of companies =
might pick=20
up on PowerHouse as a development tool that will allow them to build=20
customised solutions at a fraction of the cost of a package, if Cognos =
can get=20
out there and market it that way.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D160101712-01062002></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN class=3D160101712-01062002>I =
wonder if the=20
dinosaurs had dreams like this as that meteor streaked across the sky? =
:-)</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D160101712-01062002></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff><SPAN class=3D160101712-01062002>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#000000=20
size=3D2><STRONG><U></U></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D+0><FONT face=3DArial><FONT color=3D#000000><FONT =
size=3D2>Steve=20
Heaslip<SPAN=20
class=3D160101712-01062002>.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#000000=20
size=3D2></FONT> </DIV></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D160101712-01062002></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D160101712-01062002></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D160101712-01062002></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV class=3DOutlookMessageHeader dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT =
face=3DTahoma=20
size=3D2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> =
powerh-l-admin@cube.swau.edu=20
[mailto:powerh-l-admin@cube.swau.edu]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Olmos,=20
Fernando(Sericon at Alcoa)<BR><B>Sent:</B> Friday, 31 May 2002 3:45=20
PM<BR><B>To:</B> 'powerh-l@cube.swau.edu'<BR><B>Subject:</B> Is =
powerhouse=20
dead?<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>How many of you are =
now dedicating=20
(or already done so) your time porting your Powerhouse system(s) to =
the=20
Windows platform? It seems most large companies have already signed on =
the=20
dotted line to either have PeoplSoft, SAP, Oracle or some other =
"fancy" system=20
take over the true-tried-and-trusted text-terminal systems. The =
logistics of=20
these exercises make ENRON crashes seem like kids=20
play.</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>
<P><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>This message may contain privileged =
and/or=20
confidential information. If you have received this e-mail in error or =
are not=20
the intended recipient, you may not use, copy, disseminate or distribute =
it; do=20
not open any attachments, delete it immediately from your system and =
notify the=20
sender promptly by e-mail that you have done so. Thank=20
you.</FONT></P></BODY></HTML>
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