M-PWR^® Overview

M-PWR provides a comprehensive set of chargeback functions to support many different chargeback methodologies including resource-based, subscription based, fixed cost, distributions, allocations, pass-thru and adjustments.

The product is delivered with two components. A Microsoft Windows client/server application is used for product administration and to manage the content of the web site. The second component is a web-based application used for reporting, charting, budgeting and forecasting.

The M-PWR Windows client/server application performs all administrative functions and data manipulation for the database. The database stores utilization, revenue, expense, budget and forecast data. Data modeling features are used to control the content and structure of the database. Users can augment the product data model to include business and organizational elements such as business units, lines of business, account codes, cost centers, project codes and control/validation elements. These elements are fully integrated throughout the database.

M-PWR provides batch scripting and automation features to automate common tasks and monthly processing. These features allow for automatic updates to the database whenever interface files are updated, rather than waiting for a manual process.

M-PWR provides functions to enable an implementation that is both Sarbanes-Oxley compliant and ITIL-compatible. Audit features retain historical versions of input data, definitions, algorithms and processing logic. Transaction level logging and audit reports track data changes and the use of product functions.

The M-PWR Intranet web site supports reporting and charting including drill-down, drill-thru and data filtering. Reports and charts show real-time data as it exists in the database. Users can create custom views and filters for reports and charts and with a single click, export the data to Microsoft Excel. Security features control report and chart data using table, column and row level security. Data criteria filters can be established at the user or group level.

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M-PWR^® Windows Client Highlights

For more detailed info on M-PWR, view or download the PowerPoint presentation (mpwr.ppt).

• Administers the database (Microsoft SQL Server) and performs the chargeback, budgeting and forecasting data manipulation.

• Supports processing of utilization, revenue, expense, budget and forecast data. Algorithms can be defined to process the data using allocations, mappings, distributions, rates and other data manipulation functions.

• IT chargeback functions are provided to support many different chargeback methodologies including resource-based, subscription based, fixed cost, distributions, allocations, pass-thru and adjustments.

• Budgets and forecasts can be loaded from trended utilization data, forecasted with factors, allocated, have chargeback methodologies applied.

• IT budgeting and forecasting functions include versioning, project modeling, “what-if” scenarios, budget transfers and the use of place-holder projects.

• Tracks planned and actual expenses at the service level.

• Data consolidation features are used to aggregate structured and unstructured data from all required data sources and standardize it into a single format. Standard interfaces are provided for IBM TDSz, NeuMICS and MXG. The import engine supports data from MS Access, Excel, Lotus, text, CSV and can read data directly from DB2, Oracle and SQL Server.

• Data modeling features are used to control the content and structure of the financial database. Users can augment the product data model to include business and organizational elements like business units, lines of business, account codes, cost centers, project codes and control/validation elements. These elements are fully integrated with utilization, revenue, expense, budget, and forecast data throughout the database.

• Validation criteria and processes control the input and flow of data within the application. Valid data is separated from invalid data. Data validation and control reports are provided at both summary and detail level.

• The M-PWR Data Explorer allows users to easily see the data in the database. Data Explorer includes drill-down, filtering and Microsoft Excel extracts.

• M-PWR Query Builder allows more advanced users to query the database using standard SQL code. These SQL programs can be stored and used in Batch Scripts and scheduled through the Automation features.

• Batch scripting and automation features are provided to automate common tasks and monthly processing. Automation events can be scheduled at a specific time, or can trigger on the arrival or update of input files.

• Audit features retain historical versions of input data, definitions, algorithms and processing logic. Transaction level logging and audit reports track data changes and the use of product functions at the user level.

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M-PWR^® Intranet Highlights (Web-Reporting)

For more detailed info on M-PWR, view or download the PowerPoint presentation (mpwr.ppt).

• Reports and charting includes drill-down, drill-thru, data filtering and Excel exports. Reports and charts show real-time data as it exists in the database.

• End users can create custom views and filters for reports and charts.

• Data editing for budgets, forecasts and administrative tables. The web site supports real-time calculations to display updates. Once data is manipulated and stored in the database, all reports show the updated data.

• Standard reports are provided. Multiple summary levels can be customized to include user defined business and organizational level elements. A strong set of financial reporting metrics are provided, but the user can also add custom fields with user defined calculations.

• Ranking reports show “Top n” style; the user can select the element to be ranked and the number of records to show.

• Conditional formatting feature allows the user to alter the display format for a report value based on data criteria. Similar to the Excel conditional formatting feature, this can be used to highlight variances and critical exception values.

• Security features control report and chart data using table, column and row level security. Data criteria filters can be established at the user or group level.

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M-PWR^® Sarbanes-Oxley Features

For more detailed info on M-PWR, view or download the PowerPoint presentation (mpwr.ppt).

• Detailed activity logs record every application function that alters data. Date, time, user and function specific info is recorded.

• All input data is copied, version controlled and retained for a user-controlled period.

• Historical versions of all parameters, business logic and data tables that effect processing are version controlled and retained.

• Historical data can be retained for all application tables for a user specified period of time.

• Security roles are used to control data table edits and processing. Transaction level logging and audit reports track data changes and the use of product functions at the user level.

• All historical periods can be restored and re-processed in the original format.

• Audit reports provide info on data changes and processing. 

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