PCD Awards 2005
SUBMISSION FORM

Category:  Extraordinary PCD Tools 

Deployment State:  In-Production

 

Extraordinary PCD Tools are technologies (tools, products, protocol) that were not previously available commercially or otherwise.  Innovative PCD Tools and Techniques are things that facilitate embedding support into other software, act as agents to deliver decision support at the time of need, integrate disparate end-user software, help anticipate and resolve performance challenges, use general inference techniques to eliminate complexity, reduce the need for conventional IT support, replace more conventional means of support, and the like.  These can be new components of existing PCD Tools and Techniques if they are sufficiently unique.

Excellent examples of Extraordinary Performance Centered Design Tools are those that facilitate creating and integrating performance support environments, such as alternate interfaces, merging disparate systems (via interface integration, middleware, agents, and the like); capturing and disseminating business processes and best practices; improving business processes; embedding “wizards” and other productivity enhancers into existing systems; providing decision support and workflow support; providing resources to quickly troubleshoot problems, answer customer questions, and the like.  Any tool that clearly stands head-and-shoulders above the rest in its category - or that defines a unique category -  for enhancing the creation of EPSS / Performance-Centered Solutions is a candidate for an Extraordinary PCD Tool.  Hardware and hardware devices that fit this description are also candidates.

(Please replace italicized text with content specific to your entry.)





Entry Title Xegy
Submitted by:

Granite Technologies, Inc.
Contact Name: Kathy Larson
Phone: 303-302-1186
E-mail: kalarson@xegy.com
Address: 112 N. Rubey Drive, Suite 135
Golden, CO 80403
Logo:
Classification:

Please classify your entry:

 

Comprehensive performance-centered web-based portal development tool

Comprehensive performance-centered content/learning/knowledge management system development tool

 

Specialty performance support tool that address one or more elements of the PCD lifecyle:

Process/workflow modeling and/or simulation

User experience, interface development/generation, usability

Content, information, knowledge engineering

Real-time assembly of performance objects

Other specialty tools that address PCD lifecycle element(s) (describe)

Other (describe):

 
Product / Component Name & Brief Description:

Xegy is an innovative approach to Business Activity Management. The Xegy platform is a web-based service (ASP) that combines the principles of process management, learning management, and content management.

Xegy introduces a new standard for flexibility and usability for an ASP (service) solution. Other ASP's are confined to specific types of processes or purposes. Solutions on the Xegy platform include project managment, Sarbanes-Oxley risk managment, Sales Force Learning and product rollout, Sales Opportunity management, and Succession Planning.

Xegy represents a new paradigm for managing and improving complex processes or business practices. Xegy competes with traditional EPSS solutions by changing the way EPSS is created and delivered.

Xegy creates impact starting with the first whiteboarding session. As subject matter experts identify process steps and supporting information, they are entered directly into a portal. One session can result in a working system. Xegy catalyzes organizational innovation and action (i.e. “execution”).

Vendor:

Granite Technologies, Inc.
112 N. Rubey Drive, Suite 135
Golden, CO 80403
Operating Environment:
Xegy is a hosted service delivered through the Internet. No client software is required. We offer a variety of security and database configuration packages depending upon the customer's needs.
 
Product/Component Detailed Description:

Xegy allows any process to be laid out in an intuitive format that enables users to move through the process with little or no training. Content is organized by a unique "X-Y" coordinate navigation system eliminating lengthy chain-clicks to get to the needed information.

Non-technical users can manage all aspects of their solution. Content and security can be customized to groups or individuals. Process content is augmented with an online document library that enables external or self-contained information, such as MS Office documents, to be linked to specifc process content.

Progess on business activities is tracked and reported, real-time as users acknowldege the completion of specific tasks and actions. Tracking data is switchable between group or project completion or individual completion as in a learning process.

Unique metadata system allows non-technical users to create relationships between people, processes, or activities in the system. This functionality also allows extended profiles and data structures to be built to suit each customer and solution. Extended profiles can be used to manage standards such as SCORM or financial information such as actual vs. estimated variance or assessments associated with specific processes.

Product use:

List/describe who uses the tool and for what purpose.  Include how long your tool has been available for general use (400 words max).

Company Xegy is used:
CenterPoint Energy

an enterprise-wide process improvement portal for the 127 Centerpoint companies. Managed processes encompass the entire range of Centerpoint operations, inlcuding supporting their SAP accounting system. CenterPoint will begin using Xegy to manage Sarbanes-Oxley Risks in July, 2005, replacing their spreadsheet driven system. The benefit will be to directly integrate SOX/COSO controls with financial process improvement.
DaimlerChrysler to manage the development planning process and impact map creation for increased effectiveness of training. Managers and sales people work together to create plans for improving on-the-job results. Xegy provides the vehicle for structuring and managing those plans.
Caremark

for Talent Assessment and Succession Planning by 1500 managers. Supervisors, managers, and executives assess direct reports, nominate them for high potential programs, and create a succession plan including emergency successors, prepared successors, and future successors. A departmental meeting follows with broader team review of nominees, plans and risks to the organization.

Results:The organization is better positioned to retain high potential employees with a clear roadmap for promotion. Vulnerabilities in bench strength were identified. The organization can focus efforts appropriately. The process was completed in less than half the time and approximately 1/10 of the time than before Xegy was used.
Elan Pharmaceuticals for new product launch and certification of sales people on new products. Following a new product introducedion, Elan posts requirements into Xegy to certify that the sales people have the appropriate background. Xegy is used to present the roadmap and track progress for new hire rampup, ongoing development, on-the-job activities, and their development career path.
Transition Communications to structure change management and communication during a merger, acquisitions or other major change that could impact productivity.
Dendrite International Xegy is used for accountand opportunity planning to collapse the sales cycle and provide guidance to increase the liklihood of closing sales.
Valeant Pharmaceuticals as the sales portal to communicate sales force information, gather information from the sales force, and manage certifications. When new companies have been bought, the new sales teams have been ramped up using Xegy.
Catholic Health Initiatives to provide a process for performance, development, and career goal planning, management, and tracking of performance to goal.
American Energy Assets to monitor benchmarks in customer projects and to communicate ongoing success of construction projects.
TBS to manage the Project Management Office for customer projects, to manage multiple vendors and product offerings, and to create a roadmap for customer self serve.

Xegy was initially rolled out in 2001. This year represents significant advancements in functionality.
Deliverables provided and samples:

This tool allows PCD developers or non-technical business people within the company to:

Link to Xegy Login - Access to live application and samples.

userid: epsscentral

Password: awards
What difference does this tool make?

End to End Solution - Xegy address epss from delivering comprehensive web-based portals that communicate a clear intuitive roadmap for end-users to move through a process and put information in that will build the knowledge base or provide user-specific information.

Process/workflow modeling - Xegy allows users to create an individual, team, or company-wide activity-based work-flow or process. This process can involve prescribed tasks or decisions. Or, the process can be completely defined for each individual case. Examples include: teams defining closing processes, individuals creating their own plans, or companies defining a process for new hire assimilation.

User experience, interface development/generation, usability - Xegy allows the flexibility to lay the interface out to walk the user through any process. Additionally the interface can be altered over time to ease inexperienced users from a paper-based process into simple online process.

Content, information, knowledge engineering - Each activity can be associated with content that is either contained in templates created in the system or from outside content.

Ongoing Management of the execution against the process

Time to Impact - Xegy allows processes to be enabled faster than any other. Xegy provides value from the first meeting.
What else makes this tool extraordinary?

No other ASP service delivers the flexibility in productivity solution design that Xegy delivers.