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CCH Software User Documentation

CCH Strategic Planning 7.20

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CCH Strategic Planning v7.20

Strategic Planning 2009 is an upgrade for both MYOB PerformanceOptimiser and Strategic Planning 2006.

This version (v7.20) combines the features of both of the earlier products and the name PerformanceOptimiser has been dropped.

This release includes the following:

  • Import from Accounts Production (VAP). This feature was previously in MYOB PerformanceOptimiser but not the old Strategic Planning.
  • Benchmarking Data. This feature was previously in the old Strategic Planning but not MYOB PerformanceOptimiser.

Earlier Versions

For reference, the version numbers are as follows:

MYOB PerformanceOptimiser 7.2.0.86
Strategic Planning 2006 7.2.80.21.1.002
Strategic Planning 2009 7.2.86.21.2.003

Also note: that Strategic Planning was called Client Advisor before 2006 and MYOB PerformanceOptimiser was called MYOB Profit Optimiser.

Software Enhancements

Import from Accounts Production (VAP)

Background

MYOB PerformanceOptimiser had a facility to import a trial balance from Viztopia Accounts Production (VAP) into PerformanceOptimiser. This facility has been incorporated in Strategic Planning 2009. This is new functionality for users who ran the old version of Strategic Planning.

Importing the Trial Balance from Accounts Production (VAP)

MYOB Viztopia Accounts Production is now called CCH Accounts Production (VAP) to distinguish it from other Accounts Production products.

  • Select File > Import > Import Viztopia
  • The Select Client and Balances to be Imported screen appears.
    • Client List. Select the client from the Client List. This is the CCH Accounts Production (VAP) client list.
    • TB Balances. Selecting this is only required if you are creating a new Mapping Template (see below). Just click Next.
  • The Select Mapping Template screen appears. CCH ships two mapping templates, both for limited companies:
    • VAP 3 Digit Map
    • VAP 4 Digit Map

Users can also create their own (see below). Select the appropriate mapping template and click Next.

  • The Mapping Summary screen is displayed. Click Finish. The data is imported into a new CCH Strategic Planning model.

Creating a Mapping Template for Importing the Trial Balance

When the trial balance is imported from Accounts Production (VAP), the Mapping Template maps the nominal accounts to Strategic Planning’s categories. Strategic Planning ships with two Mapping Templates but users can create their own. The options to do so are on the same screens as those to import the trial balance. The idea is that you can create the mapping at the same time as you import a client, although in practice, you would probably create the Mapping Template and test it before running it on live cases.

  • Select File > Import > Import Viztopia  
  • The Select Client and Balances to be Imported screen appears.
    • Client List. Select a client of the appropriate type from the Client List. The client should have its default chart, e.g. Charities, without any nominals deleted.
    • TB Balances. This allows you to specify which accounts you want to have available to map. The list of available accounts is known as the Viztopia Elements mapping list. The options are: „ Excluded (Selected by default). Exclude zero balance accounts from appearing in the Viztopia Elements mapping list.
    • Include All: Include all accounts to appear in the Viztopia Elements mapping list. Select Include All.
    • Active: Include all Active accounts in the Viztopia Elements mapping list.
      - There is also an option for:
    • Detailed: This allows individual subaccounts to be mapped. This is probably not required.

The Select Mapping Template screen appears. Buttons are available to Add, Edit, Clone or Delete a template.

If you click Add the Create Account Mapping screen appears (see the screenshot below). The fields are as follows:

  • Name. A short name for the mapping template.
  • Description. A description for the mapping template.
  • Chart. This is a dropdown that contains the Chart Templates. The Chart Templates are the customised descriptions of the categories used in Strategic Planning, e.g. used to change the category Turnover to Fees. They are created using the Administration module under CCH Prosystem Strategic Planning > Administration > Chart Templates. Most users just use the default one. If so select Default Chart.
  • Viztopia Elements. This is a list of the nominal accounts taken from the client selected on the previous screen. If no accounts show, check that TB Balances was set to Include All.
  • Mapping. This is the Mapping that is currently being defined. This is described below.
  • Mapping Details. This is the list of the current mappings.

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The way this screen is used is as follows.

To create a new Mapping:
  • Click a heading in the Strategic Planning chart. For instance, click Profit and Loss to see the Profit and Loss categories and then click Turnover. The heading Turnover appears as the Mapping Name.
  • Double-click the accounts that are required in the Viztopia Elements list. In the screenshot accounts 000 and 045 have been double-clicked and the Viztopia Mapping Description appears as:


'[000]!     TURNOVER     !''[045]SALES    CLASS 5  -MK5'

By itself this is not a valid mapping. The mapping can now be edited manually to a formula like:  

'[000]! TURNOVER !'+'[045]SALES CLASS 5 -MK5' Adds the two accounts together
[000]+ [045] Shorter notation to add two accounts together.
SUM([000],[045]) The sum of all accounts from 000 to 045.

Note: that these formulae can be entered directly in the Viztopia Mapping box without double-clicking on the Viztopia Elements list.

  • When the mapping is correct, click Add. It will then appear under Mapping Details. Otherwise click 'Clear'.
  • If a mistake is made, select the mapping in the Mapping Details list and right-click. Select either 'Edit' or 'Delete' as appropriate.
  • Add successive mappings until complete. Then click Save or Cancel to save or abandon the entire Mapping Template.


Apart from + and SUM() other operators can be used to create a mapping:

Mathematical Operators
* Multiply 
* Divide
* Add 
* Subtract
Additional Functions
SUM([first code],[last code]) This returns the total of the balances for the range of codes being referenced
SumDebit([first code],[last code]) This returns the total of any accounts with a debit balance for the range of codes being referenced.
SumCredit([first code],[last code]) This returns the total of any accounts with a credit balance for the range of codes being referenced.

One final point is that for each Strategic Planning category, the user must decide whether to map to the Summary Category ONLY or the Detail Lines that make it up. For instance either map 'Turnover' or map 'Turnover (Turnover DL)' and 'Bad Debts - Recovery (-) (Turnover DL)' which are the two detail lines that make it up. (DL is short for Detail Line in these category descriptions). If both the summary and detail lines are mapped then incorrect account totals can result.

Benchmarking Data

Background

The old Strategic Planning had a facility to allow comparisons of client data to averages of Companies House data. The Companies House data had to be bought from CCH. This facility has been incorporated in Strategic Planning 2009. This is new functionality for users who ran MYOB PerformanceOptimiser.

The Companies House data is drawn from over one million sets of company accounts filed at Companies House. The data is distributed to users each year by CCH in February. It contains the figures for the year to the previous September. There are 533 separate business types (e.g. General Construction and Engineering, Plumbing, Plastering), each of which is measured against 16 key performance indicators.

Loading the Benchmark Data

When new data is sent out by CCH, instructions are included. But for reference, the instructions are repeated here:

  • Select the Administration module, i.e. Start > All Programs > CCH ProSystem Strategic Planning > Administration.
  • Then select File > Import > Import CCH Benchmark.
  • Click on Browse.
  • Browse to the benchmark data file, e.g. ca_ratios_Dec09.mdb, and click on 'Open'.
  • Click on 'Next'.
  • The Import Wizard will prompt for Search Criteria. Leave the Industry Sector, Industry and Year fields blank and click on 'Next'.
  • Click on 'Select All'.
  • Click on 'Next'.
  • The Import Wizard will load the CCH Benchmark data and return to the Administration module window. Click on File > Exit.

Using the Benchmark Data

Strategic Planning uses the benchmarks on the Strategy screen:

  • To select a relevant benchmark use Tools > Benchmarks > Select Benchmark.
  • To see the Benchmark Monitor use Tools > Benchmarks > Select Benchmark Monitor or click the target icon on the Strategy screen. This shows “traffic lights” indicating whether a client is performing the same as the average (amber), better (green) or worse (red).
  • On the Drivers side of the Strategy screen you can right click a figure and select What If to Benchmark. This shows what the consequences would have been if the Driver had had its benchmark value.
  • On the Results side of the Strategy screen you can right click a figure and select Goal Seek to Benchmark. This shows different routes that the client might be able to take to achieve benchmark value.
  • To see the value of the benchmarks use Tools > Benchmarks > Properties.
  • To see a simple report comparing a client against its benchmarks use Tools > Benchmarks > Report.

Note: that there are other ways to produce a report that compares a client against its benchmarks. For instance, you can project a new year using 0% growth in Turnover to duplicate the Profit and Loss account. You can then run a What If to Benchmark or a Goal Seek to Benchmark to manipulate this budget period and run a Health Check to compare the actual results to the results that might have occurred if performance had been in line with one or more benchmarks.

 

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