IDE - Intercompany Data Exchange:
Before deregulation of utilities sector, the companies were used to be vertically Integrated having �bundled� businesses (i.e. Generation, Transmission, and Distribution) under a tightly integrated holding company/operating company model. Hence all data from all parts of the value chain were accessible to all parts of the company.

But after deregulation, companies are now split into individually operating, self accounting units for generation, transmission, distribution, and supply. So, data that was previously contained in a single system is now distributed amongst the different operating units in the value chain. In order to obtain all data needed to complete processing, companies must share data between systems.

IDE, an add-on to SAP IS-U/CCS provides a mechanism to effectively exchange and control data between service providers’ systems. Actual transfer of data is done through Standard SAP’s EDI / IDOC communication and hence in a sense IDE is a layer above EDI/IDoc functionality. IDE covers the areas below:

Administration of deregulation data:
It includes PoD, Grids, Point of delivery Services and Service Providers.

Process Execution - Communication Control
To send and receive data for certain events. It uses PoD to determine the sender, receiver and the information to be sent along with the required format.

Management of Data Exchange Processes

SunGard has been named as the top vendor in Energy Risk’s 2009 Software Rankings, specifically in the operational risk, risk metrics, trade execution and best customer service categories. SunGard also placed among the top three in 15 of the 19 categories.

The Energy Risk annual survey assesses software companies based on the functionality, usability, performance, and reliability of solutions by conducting an online poll of industry users of energy trading and risk management tools. Energy Risk’s Software Rankings are determined by readers and professionals throughout the industry, who must write in the name of vendors for each category rather than choose from an existing list of vendors. The magazine received between 13 and 19 different vendor names for each category, and rankings were determined by the percentage of votes each vendor received.

Stella Farrington, editor of Energy Risk magazine, said, “SunGard scored consistently highly throughout the survey, showing that its customers are happy with both its current technological offerings, knowledge of the markets and customer service.”

Ben Jackson, chief operating officer of SunGard’s Kiodex business unit, said, “SunGard helps corporations, banks, and hedge funds transform their risk into advantage by helping them accurately price commodity trades, design optimal hedging strategies, improve price execution and portfolio valuation, and comply with accounting best practices (FAS 133, FAS 157 and Sarbanes Oxley). For our corporate customers, SunGard helps minimize the impact of volatile commodity prices on their earnings and help generate execution savings.”

Matt Mandalinci, president of SunGard’s energy business, said, “SunGard’s energy solutions help financial services institutions, industrial and energy companies to efficiently compete by streamlining and integrating the trading, risk management and operations of physical commodities and their associated financial instruments. Our energy solutions provide information to anticipate, evaluate and adapt in today’s rapidly changing global energy sector.”

SunGard’s energy solutions provide front- to back-office support for capturing deals and delivering market data for valuation; clearing and reconciling transactions, as well as transaction invoicing and accounting; analyzing and managing transaction and portfolio risk; facilitating physical transmission or delivery of commodities; and supporting the logistics and inventory of fuels used in producing power and industrial products. SunGard’s Kiodex helps companies manage exposure to commodity and energy price risk and improve operational risk. Delivered as Software-as-a-Service* (SaaS) solution, SunGard’s Kiodex is a Web-based commodity trading and risk management solution that integrates trade capture, valuation models, risk measurement, financial reporting and independent market data.

Use of the weekly status report is a well known project management tool that I have seen practiced at a number of software development sites over the years. This document introduces the tradition by providing a weekly status report example with template section descriptions.

* Key Achievements for Last Week
* Activities Planned for Next Week
* Issues

Here you can find the Program Management - Weekly Sttus Report Template