Mortgage, Loans, Insurance, Real Estate, Investment, Tax and Financial Services

Cognos Customer Mueller Named to Balanced Scorecard Hall of Fame: Leading steel company honored for its demonstrable performance results using t

BURLINGTON, Mass. (Business Wire EON) November 8, 2007 -- In 2004, Mueller implemented Cognos performance management solutions alongside data from the company's J.D. Edwards back-end database to unify its reporting system, identify trends and provide historical data to compare Mueller's corporate results with its goals and industry best practices. Mueller now uses Cognos Planning and Cognos 8 Business Intelligence (BI), including Cognos 8 BI Scorecarding, to guide decision making, assess progress toward strategic objectives, and to test strategic hypotheses.

By using the Cognos performance management system and underlying Balanced Scorecard methodology, Mueller has been able to align all departments and teams within the company and achieve high performance results including record profits and sales.

"BSC Hall of Fame members are organizations that demonstrate the most compelling case in terms of how the BSC has helped them achieve significant results," said Robert L. Howie, Jr., president, Balanced Scorecard Collaborative, the education and certification division of Palladium Group, Inc. "Mueller's implementation of its Balanced Scorecard using Cognos performance management solutions is an excellent illustration of a strategy-focused organization at work."

The Balanced Scorecard methodology approach uses a scorecard to measure performance against specific targets; financial metrics are balanced with indicators for customer impact, internal processes and corporate learning and growth. Using Cognos performance management solutions, the balanced scorecard implementation was led by Mueller President Bryan Davenport, CFO Philip Arp, and Planning and Financial Analysis Manager Mark Lack. The senior management team developed a corporate strategy map, which then aligns cascading functional strategy scorecards across the company's different business units.

"We're honored to be recognized by Palladium for our work in becoming a strategy-focused organization," said Mark Lack, planning and financial analysis manager, Mueller. "The biggest benefit to our organization was the clarity the Balanced Scorecard methodology provided. Using Cognos performance management solutions to implement our Balanced Scorecard initiative makes it easier to spot areas for improvement, keep focus on goals, and measure progress at Mueller. Each employee can clearly see where his or her role fits within the organization and its strategic goals."

"We're glad to see Mueller named to the BSC Hall of Fame. To be successful, a balanced scorecard strategy must be managed with software tools that can be customized for the enterprise and easily used across the company," said Doug Barton, vice president of performance management, Cognos. "Cognos' Balanced Scorecard solution has helped Mueller focus on what is vital to the company strategy for improved effectiveness, organizational cohesiveness, and alignment of key stakeholders. This ensures that a consistent vision, mission, and strategy are communicated both internally and externally."

The awards ceremony takes place today in San Francisco, at the 2007 Balanced Scorecard North American Summit, hosted by the Palladium/Balanced Scorecard Collaborative. The full listing of Hall of Fame recipients is available at: http://www.thepalladiumgroup.com/about/hof/Pages/HallofFame.aspx

Cognos is the only Performance Management vendor ever to be named to the Balanced Scorecard Hall of Fame, a recognition it received in 2004.

About Mueller:

Mueller, Inc. is the industry leader in Steel Building and Metal Roofing solutions throughout the south central United States. Today, Mueller, Inc. serves the Central and Southwest U.S. markets from 28 distribution and three manufacturing locations, employing 500 people, while continuing its heritage of directly serving the end user with quality metal building products. To view a list of locations, or to get more information, visit the Mueller, Inc. Web site at http://www.muellerinc.com

About the Palladium Group:

Palladium Group, Inc., is helping the world's leading organizations measure and manage tomorrow's performance today by providing services that increase the effectiveness of processes within strategy, finance, IT and human capital. Palladium's clients leverage expertise in areas such as financial management, Balanced Scorecards, dashboards, information management, and human resource readiness to successfully align their strategy with operations. Furthermore, Palladium's education, advisory and research offerings provide additional value for organizations to continue improvements and interact within communities of peers. Headquartered in Lincoln, Mass., Palladium has ten U.S. offices and international offices in Barcelona, Lisbon, London, Madrid, Munich and Sydney, with an additional 13 affiliates throughout Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia-Pacific. Since its formation in 2005, Palladium has signed more than 200 new customers, giving the company over 700 customers worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.thepalladiumgroup.com

About Cognos:

Cognos, the world leader in business intelligence and performance management solutions, provides world-class enterprise planning and BI software and services to help companies plan, understand and manage financial and operational performance.

Cognos brings together technology, analytical applications, best practices, and a broad network of partners to give customers a complete performance system. The Cognos performance system is an open and adaptive solution that leverages an organization's ERP, packaged applications, and database investments. It gives customers the ability to answer the questions -- How are we doing? Why are we on or off track? What should we do about it? - and enables them to understand and monitor current performance while planning future business strategies.

Cognos serves more than 23,000 customers in more than 135 countries, and its top 100 enterprise customers consistently outperform market indexes. Cognos performance management solutions and services are also available from more than 3,000 worldwide partners and resellers. For more information, visit the Cognos Web site at http://www.cognos.com

Cognos and the Cognos logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cognos Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. All other names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Note to Editors: Copies of previous Cognos press releases and Corporate and product information are available on Cognos' Web site at http://www.cognos.com

Student loan consolidation with federal debt program
If you are a college student (parents please take note), this Federal Government program can help you cut monthly payments on your student loans. You can consolidate now and lock in a low fixed rate. When you consolidate student loans with a Federal Consolidation Loan, you not only can take advantage of these low rates, you can lock in that rate for the life of your loan. One easy process, one low fixed rate, one low monthly payment, one lender. This is a free U.S. Government program (no fees or other charges). Really Great Rate is an authorized agency for this program - you can check your eligibility in a minute or two, with no obligation

Home Equity Loans: Expert Tips and Advice
Get expert advice, tips, and timely information. Manage your own Real Estate and Investment Portfolio to generate an income so you can take control of your financial life and do the things you want to do.

MORE ARTICLES:

A secured bad credit home mortgage loan comes with reduced interest rates
A secured bad credit home mortgage loan comes with reduced interest rates

Low Rate Home Equity Loans - Refinancing For A Shorter Term And Better Rate
Looking for a better rate is a common reason people choose to refinance their home equity loan. But did you know that shortening your loan term can save you more money than reducing rates? Combine the two and you will save yourself thousands in interest costs and trim years off your payment schedule.

Home Loan Mortgage Rate Quote: Online Convenience
You can find ANYTHING on the Internet! Never is this as true as when it comes to finding home loan mortgage rate quotes. In fact, along with pornography, finance and banking has probably been the biggest internet success of all. There is nothing you can do, nothing you can find in a physical bank branch that you can't get from a bank over the Internet. This includes a home loan mortgage rate quote.

Bad Credit Home Loans - Dealing With Bad Credit Mortgage Companies Online
Dealing with mortgage companies online can enable you to get a home loan even with bad credit. Bank associates' skepticism and talk around are avoided when you apply online with a mortgage broker.

Bad Credit Mortgage Company - Recognizing Mortgage Lender Scams
Mortgage lenders recognize the value of owning a home. Because some people will not easily qualify for a home loan, several lenders have begun offering home loans to tailor a variety of needs. For this matter, bad credit mortgage lenders have gained widespread popularity. The majority of bad credit lenders are sincere in their efforts to help you finance a home. However, some lenders are only concerned about their profit, and will not offer the best rate and terms.

Bad Credit Loan Mortgage Rate And The Good Lender
"Blessed are the young," says Herbert Hoover, "for they shall inherit the national debt." Debt, in whatever language or guise, is bad. But what if you've incurred debts and find it hard to dig yourself out of them? Does this mean you are forever disqualified from owning a home? Some would say yes. Bad credit loan mortgage rates show otherwise.

Low Credit Score Mortgage Refinance - Lock In A Low Rate With Bad Credit
Even with a low credit score, you can refinance your mortgage for a locked in low rate. Bad credit doesn't have to prevent you from saving money on your loan costs. The best way to find a cheap rate is to research loan offers online. But you can also improve your loan application with the following tips.

Cash Out Refinance Mortgage Loans – Home Equity, 2nd Mortgage or Cash Out Refinance Loan
There are some definite benefits to doing a cash out refinance. Just make sure that overall you are not going to be spending more money in fees and interest doing a cash out refinance as opposed to a home equity loan.

Newest Rate and Payment Mortgage Calculators for Home Loans from The Mortgage Store Online
The Mortgage Store Online (TMSO) today released its complete set of free home mortgage loan calculators on their website at themortgagestoreonline.com. These highly accurate mortgage calculators use current and true rate information to give borrowers the most realistic mortgage payment calculations.

Affordable Bad Credit Mortgage Loans - 3 Tips to Reasonable Bad Credit Mortgage Loans
Finding a mortgage loan with a bad credit rating can be an absolute nightmare: Driving from broker to broker, bank to bank, getting turned down every time, all the while your credit keeps dropping with every credit check. Fortunately, this painful process can be avoided with just a few simple tips.

Refinancing With A Second Mortgage Or Home Equity Loan
If you're looking into refinancing your home and have a second mortgage or a home equity loan or line of credit, in some cases you may be out of luck If you want to refinance your primary loan, you first must convince the lenders holding any second position loans to agree to continue to be in a subordinate position behind the new primary loan

Interest Only Home Equity Loans Featuring a Fixed Second Mortgage Rate from BD Nationwide
BD Nationwide Mortgage introduces an affordable only home equity loan that features an interest only payment option with a fixed rate. This second mortgage allows borrowers to get a fixed mortgage rate while also benefitting from a reduced payment and increased cash flow. Homeowners have the luxury of converting their home equity line of credit into a fixed rate second mortgage while keeping the interest only option. BD Nationwide has released several new second mortgage products in 2006 that have offered additional "cash out" opportunities for homeowners without requiring them to refinance their existing first mortgage.

Home Mortgage Lenders - How to Find A Good Mortgage Broker Online
Mortgage lenders have set up shop online, but they aren't all reputable mortgage brokers. To find a good mortgage lender you need to compare rates and research to find reputable companies.

Home Equity Loan Broker Awarded Preferred Mortgage Broker Status for Second Consecutive Year from IHE
For the second consecutive year, BD Nationwide Mortgage Company was awarded "Preferred Broker" Status from Irwin Home Equity for home equity loans and 125% second mortgages. IHE announced last week that BD Nationwide was extended this award for their exceptional level of expertise for home equity loan origination. The preferred status gives BD Nationwide a significant edge because they are one of the few mortgage brokers in the country who can offer large home equity loans to a 125% loan to value. Most lenders and brokers are restricted to $50,000 or $75,000 loan amounts but BD Nationwide is able to offer these high LTV second mortgages for loan amounts ranging from $100,000 to $200,000 to qualifying borrowers across the country...

Loan Application Mortgage Rate Calculator for your Mortgage Loan
Are you thinking of purchasing land, a piece of property, or your dream house? Then maybe you have considered applying for a mortgage loan. If you have already decided that you are getting a mortgage loan, then let a loan application mortgage rate calculator help you.