Cognos

Cognos is a business intelligence and performance-management software brand whose roots lie in Cognos Incorporated, an Ottawa-based Canadian technology company founded in 1969. The company began as a consulting business serving the Canadian federal government, but gradually shifted toward packaged software, particularly during the economic difficulties of the 1980s. Its first software product, QUIZ, appeared in 1979, and the company adopted the Cognos name in 1982 after operating originally as Quasar Systems Limited. The name was derived from a shortened form of the Latin verb cognosco, associated with gaining knowledge through experience. Cognos developed tools for reporting, multidimensional analysis, performance measurement, planning, forecasting, and data integration. It became especially successful in business intelligence for local-area-network environments, then expanded its portfolio as the market moved toward web-based delivery and broader enterprise analytics. The company pursued growth through a combination of product development and acquisitions, adding capabilities through businesses and technologies associated with products such as Adaytum, PowerPlay, Impromptu, DecisionStream, NoticeCast, Celequest, and Applix. At its peak as an independent company, Cognos employed nearly 3,500 people and served more than 23,000 customers in more than 135 countries. Cognos became publicly traded in 1986, with listings on the Toronto Stock Exchange under CSN and Nasdaq under COGN. Its independent position became increasingly difficult as large enterprise-software companies consolidated the business-intelligence market. SAP acquired Business Objects and Oracle acquired Hyperion Solutions, while IBM sought to strengthen its own analytics portfolio. IBM announced the acquisition of Cognos in November 2007 for approximately US$4.9 billion, and the transaction closed on January 31, 2008. Cognos subsequently operated as an IBM business before being absorbed into IBM's software organization. The brand continues under IBM. Its principal modern identity is IBM Cognos Analytics, a platform for dashboards, reporting, exploration, data visualization, governed self-service analytics, and enterprise information consumption. IBM has also used the Cognos name in adjacent planning and performance products, including IBM Planning Analytics, which evolved from Cognos's TM1 technology. Earlier offerings such as Cognos 8 BI, Cognos 10, Cognos Express, and Cognos Business Intelligence formed important stages in the product line's transition from conventional reporting and OLAP tools toward web, mobile, collaborative, and self-service analytics. Cognos is therefore no longer an independent public company, but it remains an active IBM software brand. Its positioning is centered on governed enterprise analytics: helping organizations combine operational data, standardized reporting, interactive analysis, key-performance indicators, dashboards, and planning in a controlled environment. The brand's historical significance comes from its role in the development of enterprise business intelligence and from IBM's acquisition of it during the consolidation of the global analytics-software market.

Cognos began in Ottawa in 1969 as Quasar Systems Limited, founded by Alan Rushforth and Peter Glenister. Its early work was consulting for the Canadian federal government rather than commercial software publishing. Michael U. Potter joined the business in 1972 and became chief executive in 1975, serving in that role for two decades. The company entered software in 1979 with QUIZ, a reporting and query product that helped establish the foundation for its later business-intelligence portfolio. During the Canadian recession of the 1980s, Cognos reduced its emphasis on consulting and concentrated more heavily on software sales. In 1982 it adopted the Cognos name, drawn from a shortened form of the Latin cognosco. The company became publicly traded in August 1986 on both the Toronto Stock Exchange and Nasdaq. Under Ron Zambonini, who became chief executive in 1995, Cognos strengthened its marketing and expanded its position in business intelligence for local-area networks. The rapid development of internet technologies created a strategic challenge. Cognos had built substantial expertise in networked BI, but web delivery changed customer expectations and competitive dynamics faster than the company had anticipated. Following a warning to shareholders about slower growth, the company pursued a more acquisition-led approach to obtain web and analytics capabilities. Over time it acquired or incorporated technologies associated with Right Information Systems, Interweave, Relational Matters, Scientific Time Sharing Corporation, NoticeCast, Adaytum, Frango, DataBeacon, Celequest, and Applix, among others. The company's product portfolio broadened from reporting and query tools into enterprise performance management, scorecards, planning, forecasting, event notification, metadata management, and multidimensional analysis. Cognos 8 BI, launched in 2005, combined several earlier technologies, including ReportNet, PowerPlay, Metrics Manager, NoticeCast, and DecisionStream. Cognos Express, introduced in 2009, packaged reporting, analysis, visualization, and TM1-based planning for midsize organizations. Cognos 10, announced in 2010, added stronger collaboration and mobile access. Cognos's independent history ended amid a wave of consolidation in business intelligence. IBM announced its acquisition in November 2007, following major transactions by SAP and Oracle in the same market. IBM paid approximately US$4.9 billion, and the transaction closed on January 31, 2008. Cognos continued for a time as an IBM subsidiary before being integrated into IBM's software organizations. In 2010, IBM reorganized Cognos and SPSS activities within its Business Analytics division. IBM subsequently repositioned the flagship line as IBM Cognos Analytics. A redesigned version 11 experience was presented in 2015, with a more self-service interface and contextual search. Cognos Analytics now represents IBM's reporting, dashboarding, visualization, exploration, and governed analytics capabilities, while related planning functionality is associated with IBM Planning Analytics. The PowerHouse product family, including PowerHouse 4GL Server, Axiant 4GL, and PowerHouse Web, was sold to UNICOM Systems at the end of 2013 and was no longer part of IBM's Cognos product set. The Cognos name remains active as an IBM brand rather than as a separately listed corporation. Its historical role is that of a Canadian software pioneer that moved from public-sector consulting into enterprise BI, expanded through acquisitions, and became one of the foundational assets in IBM's broader analytics strategy.

• 2015

  Cognos Analytics brand introduced

  [1]Cognosen.wikipedia.org

  IBM announced a redesigned version 11 experience and renamed the flagship BI software IBM Cognos Analytics.

• 2013

  PowerHouse product line divested

  [1]Cognosen.wikipedia.org

  UNICOM Systems acquired the PowerHouse product line, removing it from IBM's Cognos product set.

• 2010

  Cognos 10 announced

  [1]Cognosen.wikipedia.org

  IBM announced Cognos 10 with expanded collaboration, analytics, web, and mobile capabilities.

• 2009

  Cognos Express introduced

  [1]Cognosen.wikipedia.org

  IBM launched Cognos Express as an integrated BI and planning offering for midsize organizations.

• 2008

  IBM acquisition closes

  [1]Cognosen.wikipedia.org

  IBM completed the acquisition on January 31, ending Cognos's independent corporate existence.

• 2007

  IBM announces Cognos acquisition

  [1]Cognosen.wikipedia.org

  IBM announced a roughly US$4.9 billion acquisition of Cognos.

• 2005

  Cognos 8 BI launched

  [1]Cognosen.wikipedia.org

  Cognos 8 BI unified reporting, analysis, metrics, event management, metadata, and related capabilities.

• 1986

  Public listings begin

  [1]Cognosen.wikipedia.org

  Cognos became publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange and Nasdaq.

• 1982

  Company adopts Cognos name

  [1]Cognosen.wikipedia.org

  Quasar Systems Limited adopted the Cognos name as it concentrated on software.

• 1979

  First software product introduced

  [1]Cognosen.wikipedia.org

  Cognos introduced QUIZ, its first software product, after beginning as a government consulting company.

• 1969

  Company founded

  [1]Cognosen.wikipedia.org

  Alan Rushforth and Peter Glenister founded the business that initially operated as Quasar Systems Limited.

Governed, enterprise-grade business intelligence, analytics, reporting, and performance management for organizations that need both self-service insight and centralized control.

• Business intelligence and analytics platform · 2015

  IBM Cognos Analytics

  IBM Cognos Analytics is the principal current Cognos-branded platform. It supports governed reporting, dashboards, interactive exploration, data visualization, self-service analysis, and enterprise information delivery. The product evolved from earlier Cognos BI generations and emphasizes combining centralized governance with easier access for business users. IBM's version 11 redesign introduced a more modern interface and contextual search.

• Planning and performance management

  IBM Planning Analytics

  IBM Planning Analytics is the planning, budgeting, forecasting, and performance-management line associated with Cognos and the TM1 technology acquired through the Cognos portfolio. It supports financial and operational planning, scenario modeling, workflow, and analysis through web and spreadsheet-oriented interfaces.

• Business intelligence suite · 2005

  Cognos 8 BI

  Cognos 8 BI combined reporting, ad hoc querying, multidimensional analysis, KPI management, event notification, semantic modeling, and packaged analytical applications. It brought together capabilities from products such as ReportNet, PowerPlay, Metrics Manager, NoticeCast, and DecisionStream in a broader web-oriented suite.

• Business intelligence suite · 2010

  Cognos 10

  Cognos 10 was a major successor to Cognos 8 BI. It integrated reporting and analysis with collaboration and expanded access through web and mobile devices, reflecting IBM's effort to make enterprise analytics more accessible to business users.

• Midsize-business BI and planning · 2009

  Cognos Express

  Cognos Express was an integrated offering for midsize organizations. Its modules covered self-service reporting, ad hoc query, visualization and free-form analysis, plus TM1-based planning and business analysis with web and Microsoft Excel access.

• Financial consolidation and reporting

  Cognos Controller

  Cognos Controller is a financial-performance and close-management application used for consolidation, statutory reporting, intercompany processes, and related financial controls. It remains associated with IBM's Cognos performance-management portfolio.

• Application development tools

  PowerHouse 4GL

  PowerHouse 4GL and related products such as Axiant 4GL and PowerHouse Web were application-development technologies historically included in the Cognos portfolio. The product family was sold to UNICOM Systems at the end of 2013 and is no longer part of IBM's Cognos product set.

• 2007

  Massachusetts Cognos contracting investigation

  Massachusetts contracts awarded to Cognos in 2006 and 2007 came under state and later federal scrutiny after investigators examined alleged undisclosed payments, lobbying relationships, and conflicts involving political figures, associates, and former Cognos personnel. The state rescinded the contracts, and IBM later refunded the US$13 million associated with the later award. Indictments followed in 2009; the allegations concerned individuals and contracting conduct rather than a finding that the Cognos brand itself was criminally liable.

  Source

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• 2015

  Repositioning as IBM Cognos AnalyticsGeneration change

  Background

  IBM sought to modernize the flagship Cognos BI experience and make enterprise analytics more accessible to non-specialist users.

  Action taken

  IBM introduced a redesigned version 11 experience, renamed the product IBM Cognos Analytics, and added contextual search and self-service design principles.

  Aftermath

  The Cognos brand continued as IBM's principal enterprise analytics identity.

  Source

• 2013

  Divestiture of PowerHouse productsM&A

  Background

  IBM reorganized and rationalized the product portfolio inherited through Cognos.

  Action taken

  UNICOM Systems acquired the PowerHouse product line, including PowerHouse 4GL Server, Axiant 4GL, and PowerHouse Web.

  Aftermath

  The PowerHouse products were no longer part of IBM's Cognos product set.

  Source

• 2007

  Agreement to acquire ApplixM&A

  Background

  Cognos sought to strengthen its web-based performance-management and analytics capabilities as the BI market consolidated.

  Action taken

  Cognos announced the acquisition of Applix.

  Aftermath

  The transaction expanded Cognos's portfolio shortly before IBM acquired the company.

  Source

• 2007

  IBM agrees to acquire CognosM&A

  Background

  SAP's acquisition of Business Objects and Oracle's acquisition of Hyperion reflected rapid consolidation among enterprise BI vendors.

  Action taken

  IBM announced an approximately US$4.9 billion acquisition of Cognos.

  Aftermath

  The transaction closed on January 31, 2008, making Cognos an IBM software brand and strengthening IBM's analytics portfolio.

  Announced acquisition value. Approximately US$4.9 billion (2007 announcement)

  • SAP — SAP had already acquired Business Objects, contributing to the consolidation context.
  • Oracle — Oracle had already acquired Hyperion Solutions, contributing to the consolidation context.

  Source

• 1980

  Shift from consulting toward softwareStrategy

  Background

  The Canadian recession challenged Cognos's original consulting-led model.

  Action taken

  The company placed greater emphasis on packaged software sales and business-intelligence products.

  Aftermath

  This shift established the commercial software base that supported Cognos's later international expansion.

  Source

1. 1Cognosen.wikipedia.org
2. 2IBM Cognos Analyticsibm.com