Understanding the IRM/MRP Analogy

"You must first plant the seeds in order to				more objectives can be
harvest the crop. Unfortunately,				grouped into a project. An objective may relate
most companies tend to eat the seed and then				to one or more
there is no crop to harvest."				information requirements.Projects - a scope of
- Bryce's LawINTRODUCTIONWhen we				work consisting of one or more phases. A
introduced the original version of the "PRIDE"				project is an application of the material and
methodology in				human resources to
1971 (which is now referred to as "PRIDE"-ISEM),				a specific objective through the execution of a
we were primarily concerned				prescribed sequence
with developing enterprise-wide systems. Over				of events. A project implements one or more
time, it became clear to us				objectives.Many of the relationships between the
that we needed to enhance our approach for				resources
developing the corporate data				are hierarchical in nature, such as Systems
base, hence "PRIDE"-DBEM (Data Base				Resources that
Engineering Methodology) was born. Shortly				subscribe to a "Standard System Structure" as
thereafter, we introduced "PRIDE"-EEM				specified
(Enterprise Engineering Methodology) as				by "PRIDE." Some also have recursive
a means to model the business and formulate an				relationships,
enterprise information strategy. When				such as files-within-files or modules-calling-modules.
this was done, the last piece of the puzzle of our				Yet,
philosophy for Information				others are represented by a network of
Resource Management (IRM) fell into place. This				relationships (too extensive
was completed by the early 1980's.At the time,				to go into here). All of these relationships
most companies were concerned with only				ultimately represents
controlling the				a model of the business and provides the ability
data resources pertaining to their Data Base				to perform
Management Systems. This was				an "Impact Analysis" whereby we can study the
a nice first step, but as it became necessary to				effect the
share and re-use other				change of one resource may have on another.
resources such as software, it started to				For example,
become obvious a more global				should we decide to change the length of a data
perspective on managing information resources				element,
was needed, which is where				we should be able to determine, with great
IRM comes in.DEFINITIONInformation Resource				accuracy, all
Management is the design, development,				of the other resources affected by the change,
implementation,				thereby
and control over all of the resources needed to				providing a "roadmap" for a maintenance
produce information. Its				project.The mapping and maintenance of these
intent is to share and re-use resources where				extensive relationships
appropriate. Sharing				between information resources is the forte of an
represents the interchangeability of resources,				"IRM
thereby promoting the				Repository" which acts as a "Bill of Materials"
standardization and integration of parts in				processor
products. By doing so,				(see "Managing Design Complexity" - "PRIDE"
development time and costs are reduced by				Special Subject
simply re-using parts.To those of you in				Bulletin #10) at: order to promote sharing and
manufacturing, this will all sound very familiar				re-usability, resources should be
as this is the same objective of Materials				uniquely identified by number and name, along
Resource Planning (MRP) and,				with its prescribed
as such, IRM can trace its roots to MRP. The				characteristics. Such resource definition ultimately
intent of both IRM and MRP				represents the
are the same, the only difference is the types of				rules of the business and allows us to
resources being				differentiate resources. Using
managed. Whereas MRP is concerned with				an automated IRM Repository, tests can be
tangible parts and products,				performed to check for
IRM is concerned with resources that are more				redundancy in characteristics and, as such, the
intangible. Nonetheless,				use of redundant
both IRM and MRP are concerned with the				resources can be avoided.Also see "Establishing
collection, storage, and delivery				an IRM Repository" at:
of resources in the most cost effective means				METHODOLOGIESThe three classes of resources
possible.TYPES OF INFORMATION RESOURCESTo				also hints at three different
understand the resources needed to produce				methodologies for developing them:Enterprise
information, we must				Engineering Methodology (EEM) - primarily
first understand the fundamental nature of				concerned with
information itself. We				developing business resources and is performed
define it as "the intelligence or insight required to				by Enterprise Engineers
support the				(Business Analysts)Information Systems
actions and decisions of the business." Further,				Engineering Methodology (ISEM) - primarily
we provide a				concerned with system resources (Software
simple formula for it:Information = Data +				Engineering is considered
ProcessingThis means there are two equal				a subset of ISEM), Such resources are
variables for producing				developed by Systems
information: data (representing the facts and				Engineers and Software Engineers (analysts and
events of the business)				programmers).Data Base Engineering Methodology
and, processing (representing how and when data				(DBEM) - primarily
is to be collected,				concerned with data resources and is performed
stored, and retrieved). If the data is correct, but				by Data Engineers
the processing				and Data Base Administrators.Although the
is wrong, the information will be wrong.				methodologies will define "who" is primarily
Conversely, if the				responsible for their development, it is quite
data is wrong, but the processing is correct, the				common for information
information				resources to cross methodology boundaries. For
will also be wrong. From this, we can deduce				example, during EEM
three classes				systems and "objects" (logical files) are identified
of information resources:DATA RESOURCES -				which are later
representing the facts and events of the				implemented by ISEM and DBEM respectively.
business,				During ISEM, application
along with how they are stored.SYSTEM				logical files are identified and detailed later in
RESOURCES - representing how data is to be				DBEM. In DBEM,
processed.BUSINESS RESOURCES - representing				physical files for a specific application are
both the consumer of the information				designed and delivered
as well as the human and machine resources				to ISEM in Software Engineering. This means
participating in the				resources are initially
production of information.DATA				identified and then refined in ensuing phases of
RESOURCESData Elements - individual facts and				the various
events regarding an enterprise				methodologies. In this regards, an IRM Repository
(the basic building block of all data resources).				is used as a
Used to identify,				"scratchpad" by developers to record the
describe and quantify the objects of the				specifications of information
business; includes both				resources.Project Management and Quality
primary and generated values (e.g., Net-Pay,				Assurance will also find information
Percent Completed,				resource definition helpful in their assignments.
etc.).Records - a collection of one or more data				The phases of
elements. Represents				the methodologies dictate which resources must
logical and physical storage areas within a file,				be used and their
input transactions, print maps and screen panels				degree of definition. For example, in ISEM, the
(incl.				need for
messages), and call arguments between				specific data elements must be identified in Phase
programming modules.Files - a collection of one or				1 (to support
more records. Represents				an information requirement), either new or
logical and physical storage, both computer and				established data elements
manual.Data Base - all of the files either within a				to be re-used. At this time, for new data
single application				elements, only its
or a given enterprise, both logically and				logical definition must be supplied. The physical
physically.Inputs - a collection of one of more				attributes of the
records used to collect				data elements (e.g., length, picture, precision,
data. Can be implemented by screens, paper,				scale, etc.) do not
verbal, optical, etc.Outputs - a collection of one or				have to be defined until Phase 3 (prior to
more records to transmit				Software Engineering). By
informationSYSTEM RESOURCESSystems - a				taking this approach to development, Project
collection of one or more sub-systems. Systems				Management and Quality
can be implemented manually, in part or in full, or				Assurance can substantiate completion of the
with				resource definition and
mechanical support (computers).Sub-Systems - a				the phase of work (it either has been done or it
collection of one or more procedures within				has not). Such
a system. A sub-system is a business process				analysis of the completion of work is commonly
representing a				referred to as performing
flow of work within a specific				a "status check."IMPLEMENTATIONAs we
time-frame.Procedures - a collection of one or				mentioned in our earlier article, "Managing Design
more operational steps				Complexity,"
(Administrative) or one or more programs				sharing and re-using resources doesn't happen by
(Computer).Operational Step - an individual				accident. It takes a
task.Programs - a set of computer-executable				premeditated effort to do so. This means we
instructions performing				have to uniquely identify,
a step within a computer procedure. A program				describe, and cross-reference each resource.Is
may be subdivided				such definition work endless? Hardly. There is a
into modules if so desired.Modules - compilable				finite number of
program source code consisting of one or				information resources in an organization. For
more subroutines written in the same				example, there is probably
programming language. It				no more than 500 - 1,000 unique data elements
is not executable by itself. Modules can call other				in an enterprise. Once they
modules.BUSINESS RESOURCESEnterprises - a				are documented, they can be shared and
defined business entity with a specific mission,				re-used over and over again. This
whether				is the real payoff of IRM, thus expediting
profitable or non-profitable in intent. Enterprises				development and simplifying
take many forms,				change control.Year ago there was a problem in
such as the conventional commercial venture,				India where people were starving
whether private or public,				to death. To help out, the United States sent
a government agency, etc. Enterprises consist of				seed grain to India
business functions				for the local populace to plant and harvest. This
and are implemented by Positions.Functions - a				was a viable
scope of responsibilities for carrying out a specific				long-term strategy to take. Unfortunately, when
portion of the mission of the enterprise, e.g.,				the sacks of seed
Marketing, Sales,				were delivered to the docks, the people opened
Manufacturing, etc. Functions are implemented by				them and ate the
Positions.Positions - a prescribed set of duties and				seed as opposed to planting it. This remedied
responsibilities; another				their immediate
name is "job." Positions implement business				hunger problem, but ruined their long term needs.
functions either in part or				You cannot
in full. Positions are implemented by Human				harvest a crop if you do not sew the seeds. The
Machine Resources.Human/Machine Resources -				same is true
employees, part-time workers, consultants,				in IRM and MRP. To harvest the crop, we must
computers, equipment, etc. Such resources				first document our
possess...Skills - specific knowledge or talent as				resources. Only then can we realize the benefits
developed by education				of sharing and
and/or experience. Proficiency denotes level of				re-using them.For more information on our
skill.Information Requirements - specific needs for				philosophies of Information Resource
information in order				Management (IRM), please see the "Introduction"
to perform actions and decisions related to the				section of "PRIDE"
business of the enterpriseObjectives - a goal for				at: Bryce is the Managing Director of M. Bryce &
the enterprise to achieve whether strategic,				Associates (MBA)
tactical, or mandatory in nature. An objective can				of Palm Harbor, Florida and has 30 years of
be used to call				experience in the field.
for new development, modify or improve an				He is available for training and consulting on an
existing condition (mod/imp),				international basis.
or to maintain or correct something. One or

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Understanding the IRM/MRP Analogy