Insights RM – Frequently Asked Questions

Insights RM is a cloud-based software (SaaS) that can be accessed anywhere via a browser.

Insights RM allows pharmaceutical companies to connect to their time tracking tool to integrate with Insights resource management data.

• Model Work Demand- Insights Resource Management can model work demand in several ways that vary in complexity from simple to more complex.  The level of complexity is determined as part of the implementation.  Work demand should be modeled by role, over time.
• FTE Supply- Insights Resource Management has a module for managing FTE supply (i.e. capacity management).  This can be tracked down to the name level.  Tags can be placed on resources, such as ‘contractor’ or ‘new hire’, so managers can see more granularity about hiring plans, when contractors roll off projects, etc.
• Actuals- Insights Resource Management has a companion time tracking tool that can be utilized, or an API can be developed for connecting with another time tracking system to pull data into Insights Resource Management.  The actuals data can then be presented on the screen to provide a gauge on the accuracy of the demand estimate.  The actuals data can be utilized in reports and other ways to identify resource gaps and bottlenecks.

Insights Resource Management models work demand in several ways that vary in complexity from simple to more complex algorithms.  The level of complexity (specifically, in terms of the demand project algorithms) should be determined as part of the implementation.  Work demand can be modeled by role, over time.

• Insights Resource Management has an easy-to-use scenario planning model.  The user is presented with a Gantt-like view of their portfolio.  The user can “grab”:
  • the end date of the bar for the project and move the end date
  • the start date of the bar for the project move the start date
  • the whole bar and move the whole bar.
• With any of these changes the user can see the resource demand shift automatically as the user moves the timelines. 
• Users can move the summary bar of the project or expand the project and move the bars (timelines) for any subtasks.  This design allows users to choose how specific they need to be when doing scenario modeling yet being able to do it on one interface that is simple and easy-to-use.
• Once the scenario is created it can be saved to analyze later.  Several scenarios can be saved and published as a new book of work, replacing what was previously used.

Yes, the concept behind a SaaS solution is that Intrinsic took over 20 years of pharmaceutical resource management experience and built a best in class resource management tool with all the key features.  This allows pharmaceutical companies to implement Insights Resource Management in as fast as a week.

• Insights Resource Management has out-of-the box reports that allow users to visualize work demand versus supply versus actual data.  Users have the ability to save reports to their profile and share reports they created (for example, filtering on a project or TA).  That way a user’s saved reports can be stored in Insights Resource Management.
• Any or all of the data in Insights Resource Management are able to export data to Excel if users want to create their own Excel reports.

• Insights Resource Management has an algorithm engine to model work demand, and it utilizes project plan milestones and any activity dates.
• Algorithms can be as complex as users would like, including simple “low, medium, high” allocations.
• If more complexity is needed, the resource management algorithm engine users can create custom mathematical expressions that can be applied to projections.

• Insights Resource Management has out-of-the box reports that have numerous filters, such as therapeutic area, program, study, activity, and role. 
• In addition, users can add tags in Microsoft Project, such as whether a project is outsourced, and this tag should can be imported into Insights Resource Management and used as a filter.

The demand model Insights Resource Management can be adjusted through scenario planning as described above.

Insights Resource Management allows pharmaceutical companies to import supply or headcount into the system.  A hiring plan can also be created by function or role to assist managers with more clarity on their resource management plans.

• Actuals should be able to be analyzed within a resource management system.
• Allocation of resources should also be completed within the resource management tool. A “heat map” or visualization using colors should indicate under and over allocated resources.

• The resource management reports have the ability to either be saved within Insights Resource Management or exported out of the tool. 
• Reports can be generated, saved and shared within the tool.
• Reports can be exported to Excel or CSV for analyzing outside the tool.
• Visualizations/graphs can be exported as PNG or SVG files for sharing outside the tool in other downstream systems.
• Data tables can be individually exported from within the tool on a table by table basis for manipulation and easy reimporting.
• Additionally, users can “Export All Data” within each business unit (a “Domain”) with a single button (permission based).
• Demand Projections generated by the tool can be exported to a csv file.

Data and charts can be exported either via individual data tables or a full data export file. 

• Insights Resource Management has out-of-the box reports that allow users to visualize work demand versus supply versus actual data.  Users have the ability to save reports to their profile and share reports they created (for example, filtering on a project).  That way a user’s saved reports are stored in Insights Resource Management.
• Data is easily exported or connected to other visualization tools, such as Microsoft Power BI, Tableau, etc. 

• Insights Resource Management makes it easy to slice and dice your data. In addition to out of the box data elements, the tool allows users to “tag” additional data elements using additional columns (e.g. outsourced, number of patients, number of sites) in the schedule (i.e., the book of business). These columns can be filtered against, can be targeted for inclusion/exclusion using Complexity Rules and can be targeted for custom projection calculation using Custom Algorithms.
• There is also drill down or pivoting capabilities on this data in real time.
• Insights Resource Management has an option to roll up/drill down data by Month, Quarter, Year, role, department, organization, work item (project or study), and activities.

• Insights Resource Management has an easy-to-use scenario planning model.  The is presented with a Gantt-like view of their portfolio.  The user can “grab”:
  • the end date of the bar for the project and move the end date
  • the start date of the bar for the project move the start date
  • the whole bar and move the whole bar
• As the dates are adjusted, the user will see the resource demand shift automatically as the user moves the timelines. 
• The user can move the summary bar of the project, or they can expand the project and move the bars (timelines) for any subtasks.  This design allows users to choose how specific they need to be when doing scenario modeling.
• Once the scenario is created it can be saved to analyze later.  Several scenarios can be saved.  The scenario is able to be saved as a new book of work (Schedule), replacing what was previously used.

Insights Resource Management allows custom criteria or to “tag” additional data elements using additional columns (such as outsourced, number of patients, number of sites) in the schedule (i.e. the book of business). These columns can be filtered against, used for inclusion/exclusion using Complexity Rules, and used for custom projection calculations using Custom Algorithms.

Insights Resource Management models work demand in several ways that vary in complexity from simple to more complex algorithms.  The level of complexity should be determined as part of the implementation.  Work demand should be modeled by role, over time.

• Insights Resource Management can define user permissions by role, function or individual.
• Application and API data access can be granted, via permissions, to individuals for each business unit (a “Domain”) modeled in the resource management tool. These permissions are controlled by a designated custodian at the client company. Permission levels should include read, read/write, and read/write/administrate.

Single sign on can occur via Microsoft Office 365. Once invited, the login should be seamless using the username and password used for all Microsoft 365 tools.

Insights Resource Management uses domains that are essentially containers (set up by department or function) of resource management data, capacity management data, etc.  Privileges can be set up so that users only see their whichever domains they are involved with.  This way each function has its own working space for resource management.