Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
INFORMATION
SYSTEMS @ WORK
AstraZeneca is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical
companies and truly a global corporation. With a presence in
over 100 countries, AstraZeneca is based in London, England, with
research and development sites in Sweden, the United States, and
the United Kingdom. The company has more than 67,000
employees, who mostly work in Europe. AstraZeneca totaled
$29.6 billion in sales in 2007.
The pharmaceutical industry is highly competitive, with many
companies racing to be the first to market with drug remedies for
common ailments and diseases. It typically takes 8-12 years to
bring a new drug to market. Furthermore, a drug patent lasts
20-25 years, much of which is taken up in development time. The
less time a company spends developing a drug, the more years it
can reap in profits before generic alternatives are made available.
Every day saved in development can mean millions of dollars in
profits. The key to shortening the development time of drugs lies in
efficient project management.
AstraZeneca developed a project management system to
allow its research facilities around the world to share research
and development (R&D) information. The system is called Matrix,
and it gathers and analyzes research and development information
stored in a large corporate data warehouse. Approximately 5,000
researchers working at the six AstraZeneca R&D sites have
access to the Matrix system. The ability to access research infor-
mation is transforming how research is conducted. Researchers
can collaborate on projects from different sites, tracking each
other's progress. Matrix has also eliminated wasteful duplication
of effort caused by miscommunication.
AstraZeneca researchers create a high volume of project data
every day. The Matrix system allows researchers and managers to
track, understand, and manage that data. Top-level executives use
an executive dashboard manager to view key performance indica-
tors and keep their finger on the pulse of the business to make
quick, confident decisions. The system helps the finance depart-
ment get a clear picture of project costs. Managers can easily
manage project scheduling, budgeting, and resource allocation.
Matrix makes AstraZeneca more nimble, which is a significant
achievement considering the size of the company. AstraZeneca
can launch products quickly, often faster than the competition,
which lets them establish leadership in a variety of specialty areas.
AstraZeneca business manager David Scanion believes that
the new MIS has improved the company's project management,
cost control, and resource usage, improving the company's ability
to compete with world-class research done in record-breaking
timescales.
Discussion Questions
1.
What time factors affect the product life of new drugs?
2.
What benefits does the Matrix system provide to researchers
at AstraZeneca?
Critical Thinking Questions
1.
How does the Matrix system improve project management at
AstraZeneca?
2.
What financial savings and benefits are provided to the
company from the Matrix system?
SOURCES:
Business Objects Staff, “AstraZeneca”, Business Objects
Customers in the Spotlight, 2008,
www.businessobjects.com/company/
customers/spotlight/astrazeneca.asp;
AstraZeneca Web Site, accessed
May 20, 2008,
www.astrazeneca.com.
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