FITS Quiz

Question: Can I update my projects while I am traveling outside of the office?

Question: Can you update your projects while you are traveling outside of the office? Answer: Yes, once you have “checked out” the projects on your laptop. You will need to “check in” the project in order for the new information to be included in reports.

Question: How do you identify which projects in your pipeline are behind their forecasted completion dates for the next milestone?

Question: How do you identify which projects in your pipeline are behind their forecasted completion dates for the next milestone? Answer: Using “Milestone Analysis”, the overdue milestones will show up in red color. If viewing the “Project Listing” report, the overdue milestones will show up in red color. Soon, there will be a reminder screen in FITS which will show all of your projects with overdue milestones.

Question: Can you use a local tracking number instead of the automatically-generated “Project ID”?

Question: Can you use a local tracking number instead of the automatically-generated “Project ID”? Answer: Yes, but there is no specific field in FITS. Some teams simply put their local tracking number in the “Project Name” field along with the name.

Question: How do you find a project in FITS whose name you can’t quite remember?

Question: How do you find a project in FITS whose name you can’t quite remember? Answer: Use the “Search” function. It can be found under the “Edit” menu, or by clicking the “Search” button at the top of the FITS screen.

Question: Can FITS help me create a paper trail by saving site approval letters or other documentation used during the development process?

Question: Can FITS help me create a paper trail by saving site approval letters or other documentation used during the development process? Answer: Yes, you may save documents for a particular projects. First, open the project. Then go to the Milestone tab. Then save or access documents by clicking on the numbered button in the “Docs” column next to the appropriate milestone. The number of saved documents will appear in that same space.

Question: If you have a new Development Manager or Franchisee, can you enter a project which they are working on?

Question: If you have a new Development Manager or Franchisee, can you enter a project which they are working on? Answer: Yes, you may add a new Development Manager or Franchisee to the list by clicking on “Add New” (which is at the top of the current list).

Question: Can you use FITS data with an electronic mapping program so that sites can be reflected on a map?

Question: Can you use FITS data with an electronic mapping program so that sites can be reflected on a map? Answer: Yes, as long as you enter GPS coordinates for the site. These coordinates can later be downloaded from the FITS database to your mapping program.

Question: Can you use FITS to compare your YTD openings with last year’s progress at the same time?

Question: Can you use FITS to compare your YTD openings with last year’s progress at the same time? Answer: You may use the “Plan/Forecast/Actual” COGNOS report, or you may use Milestone Analysis function in FITS.

Question: How can you see projects which have a milestone forecast dates which are approaching in the near future?

Question: How can you see projects which have a milestone forecast dates which are approaching in the near future? Answer: FITS will soon have a “Reminders” function which can be set to give you reminders of upcoming milestone forecast dates. You will be able to select a window of time to suit your needs (e.g., forecast milestones completion dates during the next two weeks)

Question: How can you see the number of openings in your BMU’s AOP for 2005?

Question: How can you see the number of openings in your BMU’s AOP for 2005? Answer: You may look at the AOP plan by opening the “AOP Entry” function under the “Planning” menu. You can download this to Excel to print. Alternatively, you may view or print one of the “Plan/Forecast/Actual” reports in COGNOS.

Question: How can you show a list of the projects for an individual franchisee group (only)?

Question: How can you show a list of the projects for an individual franchisee group (only)? Answer You can use “Milestone Analysis” and select only that franchisee, or you may select the “Project Listing” COGNOS report and select the projects for the franchisee.

Question: How can you show a list of only those projects where something new has happened recently?

Question: How can you show a list of only those projects where something new has happened recently? Answer: You can use the “Milestone Analysis” function, and then select a date in the “Changed Since” pull down menu. For example, you may select all projects which have been updated in the last week.

Question: If you change the forecast OPEN date for a particular NEW restaurant project, will my BMU’s Best Guess forecast automatically be changed?

Question: If you change the forecast OPEN date for a particular NEW restaurant project, will my BMU’s Best Guess forecast automatically be changed? Answer: No. The Best Guess (and AOP) functions are completely separate from project data, except that the Best Guess will automatically be changed to reflect the Actual number of projects completed for past periods – the Best Guess will only need to be completed for future periods.

Question: Is it OK if my Best Guess forecast is not the same as my BMU’s QF?

Question: Is it OK if my Best Guess forecast is not the same as my BMU’s QF? Answer: Your Best Guess should be updated on a monthly basis. Therefore, it will likely be more accurate than your QF. It is fine if they are different.

Question: I always attempt to make sure I have exactly the same number of projects in my pipeline as my AOP plan. Is this good pipeline management?

Question: I always attempt to make sure I have exactly the same number of projects in my pipeline as my AOP plan. Is this good pipeline management? Answer: At any given point during a year, your pipeline of projects could be less or more than your AOP (which is fixed at the beginning of the year). All of your projects which have completed an initial milestone (e.g., SITE for New restaurant projects) should be entered into FITS.

Question: How should I monitor or track targeted trade areas prior to identifying sites?

Question: How should I monitor or track targeted trade areas prior to identifying sites? Answer: You may enter trade areas into FITS. If you enter a date for the INQ or WORK milestones, you are not required to enter a forecasted OPEN date.

Question: When should I enter the proposed closures for a given year?

Question: When should I enter the proposed closures for a given year? Answer: During the Business Planning process, all potential “planned” closures for the upcoming year should be identified. Each of these potential closures should be entered into FITS, with ID and CLOSE milestone forecast dates. Unexpected or forced closures which arise during the year should be entered into FITS as soon as known during the year in the same fashion.

Question: How can you compare your BMU’s progress against your AOP?

Question: How can you compare your BMU’s progress against your AOP? Answer: You can do this using the “AOP Entry” function in FITS, or by using one of the “Plan/Forecast/Actual” reports in COGNOS.

Question: How can you calculate the average construction time for the projects completed in your BMU last year?

Question: How can you calculate the average construction time for the projects completed in your BMU last year? Answer: Soon, there will be a “Cycle Time” function built into FITS. In the meantime, you may use Milestone Analysis to download your pipeline information to Excel, and then using Excel, you can calculate the durations and averages for your pipeline.

Question: What is the difference between a “Terminated” project and a “Deleted” project?

Question: What is the difference between a “Terminated” project and a “Deleted” project? Answer: A “Terminated” project’s data is maintained in the database and can be re-activated at some time in the future. A “Deleted” project is dropped permanently from the database.

Question: How can I view only those projects which have received site or CAPEX approval but which are not yet OPEN?

Question: How can I view only those projects which have received site or CAPEX approval but which are not yet OPEN? Answer: Using “Milestone Analysis”, you can select only the milestones APP through EQU (by using the key). Therefore, projects which have been opened or projects who have not yet completed APP will not be included.

Question: Can I enter projects without any forecast dates?

Question: Can I enter projects without any forecast dates? Answer: For most projects, you must enter forecast dates for the initiation of the project and the completion (e.g. SITE and OPEN for New restaurant projects); however, some early-stage projects only require one milestone date to be entered (e.g., trade zones without an identified site can be entered with only a forecast date for INQ milestone)

Question: Should we be using FITS to track lease termination dates or franchisee term expirations?

Question: Should we be using FITS to track lease termination dates or franchisee term expirations? Answer: FITS only includes restaurant data for recently opened units, and for future openings. FACTS is a better database to use for this purpose.

Question: What “Project Type” should I use to enter a LJS addition to an existing KFC?

Question: What “Project Type” should I use to enter a LJS addition to an existing KFC? Answer: Conversion (CON) can be used for projects such as re-branding or additions of an additional brand. These projects are not included in opening counts.

Question: If you just updated the information for a project in FITS, why doesn’t it show up correctly in a COGNOS report?

Question: If you just updated the information for a project in FITS, why doesn’t it show up correctly in a COGNOS report? Answer: The COGNOS reports are only updated with new FITS data four times a day. FITS reports downloaded to Excel should always be current.

Question: Can you update the Actual OPEN date for a New restaurant opening from last year?

Question: Can you update the Actual OPEN date for a New restaurant opening from last year? Answer: No. Project Data is locked in the FITS system three months after a project has been completed. Only the Dallas FITS administrator may change project data after that point in time.

Question: Is there a charge for the use of FITS for each user?

Question: Is there a charge for the use of FITS for each user? Answer: No. YRI has covered the cost of system development and the licenses for the reporting system.