Achieving an Integrated Data Environment: A Strategic Initiative

The research describes the barriers that threaten to limit the pace and effectiveness of the industry’s drive towards the integrated data environment. It also presents a series of pragmatic recommendations for individual companies and the industry as a whole to remove these barriers. The effectiveness with which the industry implements these recommendations will impact its future competitiveness and growth.

The research team found that there were direct benefits to be gained from an integrated data environment, such as increased productivity and shorter cycle times. In addition there were indirect benefits that were probable and harder to quantify due to the lack of sufficient data in the industry and include: 1) a more high tech industry which will improve recruiting, innovation and marketing, 2) enhanced information flow between customers and suppliers will create better relationships with respect to each other’s needs leading to product improvements, and 3) data integration becoming an ally of TQM. (RS20-3, p. 14)