The Implementation of a Business Intelligence Platform to Leverage the Army Logistics Support Command's Balanced Scorecard – A Case Study

Abstract

Many complex organizations struggle to optimize the use of their assets and resources. The Logistics Support Command of the Spanish Army was aware, about a decade ago, of a number of inefficiencies that had a negative influence on the effectiveness of the weapon systems that it had to sustain in their operational lives. In order to improve the management of its allocated resources, it decided to develop and implement a balanced scorecard and a business intelligence platform. The job was performed with the support of ISDEFE (Engineering Systems for the Defence of Spain) the systems engineering firm of the Ministry of Defence. The systems approach led to a successful implementation of the needed platform, which substantially enhanced the effectiveness and efficiency of the Logistics Support Command. This paper shows what was done, and how. This case study of applied systems engineering enables the issuing of a number of recommendations for organizations that plan to develop similar business intelligence platforms, as a mechanism to becoming more competent and successful at the managing of their resources.