What is EPM?

Performance Management has traditionally referred to the systems, metrics and related processes and methodologies used to measure and manage performance - this typically encompasses activities such as Budgeting, Forecasting, Financial Reporting (Statutory and Management), Scorecarding, and all the reporting and analytics functionality required to support and enhance these offerings.

In the Hyperion world, this has been called BPM (Business Performance Management). Although, in theory, the BPM concepts can be applied across the enterprise, Hyperion's strengths have always been primarily in the Finance department.

Now Oracle has completed the acquisition of Hyperion, it holds the most comprehensive set of applications and tools across the enterprise. In recognition of this, Oracle now defines the term Enterprise Performance Management as an umbrella term encompassing three major areas:

• ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) - the transactional systems including general ledger, procure to pay, order to cash, payroll, fixed assets and many other extended functions
• Operational BI - this refers to the reporting and analytics solutions built on top of operational systems such as CRM, Billing etc., including the data marts or warehouses that provide an analytical view of the transactional data stored in these systems.
• Financial Performance Management systems i.e. the traditional definition of BPM discussed above

EPM Engagement

Our Strategic EPM Engagement guide provides details of how a typical engagement works. For a more in-depth understanding of EPM, go to EPM Strategy.

Terminology and Acronyms

There are various similar terms in use by different vendors and organisations, all describing much the same concepts. For a fuller discussion of the history behind some of these different acronyms, please see our article ?PM - Performance Management Acronyms Galore