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106 CHAPTER 9 Align and business value

Sample Output

Figure 9-10 shows the Farfel example with prorated benefits applied to business actions. For the real
client, we took a conservative 5% of benefits from improved cash flow. These were stated in the client’s
pro-forma projected balance sheets.
Tips for Success

One other subtle event that can be leveraged is that now the naysayers will take their chance to shoot
holes in the program. Make sure there is the audit trail that was mentioned earlier. Between that and
backing from a good sponsor, you may be able to elevate DG a bit higher.

SUMMARY

Do not despair if you feel this set of activities will result in a pro forma or artificial number. After all,
business benefits tend to sail right past any sort of information project and land at the feet of the
business area. Even if your team used a guerilla approach, you still have a quantitative means to
monitor DG. The main benefit here is formal consideration of how DG will contribute to the business;
not to data quality or other efforts, but to the business.