The need for Enterprise Master Planning

If you don't know where you are going, you probably won't get there.

Although this seems self-evident, many corporations do not have a Master Plan for integrating rapidly emerging new computing and communications technology. However, there are examples of companies like Federal Express, Walmart and Google, who have demonstrated that improved use of information can provide a decisive competitive advantage.

This is particularly true of major new facilities or expansions. Typically, Project Managers are focused on building the physical facility, and the business managers who will be responsible for making the new facility work, are not yet assigned. The failure to plan for information systems and human and organizational aspects during the facility engineering phase, commonly results in a facility which is physically complete, but which takes months to reach its profit potential.

Companies that do not have a clear, well executed Enterprise Master Plan, that addressed People and Systems as well as Facilities, will be regularly out-performed by competitors who do.

	The PERA Master Planning Methodology provides a methodical approach to planning which can be used at any phase in the life cycle of an enterprise. This diagram shows use of PERA Master Planning during the Enterprise Definition phase, however, it may be used during Engineering Phases (to plan Project Design and Construction), or during Operations Phase (to plan upgrades).
The PERA Framework provides a framework for planning each phase of the enterprise. As such it encompasses all other planning, design, and analysis tools.

Both of the above PERA diagrams emphasize the importance of considering Human and Organizational aspects, as well as Control and Information Systems, at every phase of the enterprise.