whether they were using an actual s

whether they were using an actual software package or were performing these functions via a “system” (for example, meetings or spreadsheets). Note that we were not concerned with the specific type of solution or sys- tem, but rather with their integration with the supply chain. In the vast majority of cases, though, respondents were using software packages.
Integration proved to be somewhat problematical across the different dimensions we measured. With respect to the integration of the supply chain and the demand management software/system, just under half of the survey respondents reported that they were at least moderately integrated. (See Exhibit 2.) Of that number, however, only 6 percent considered their companies to be “extremely integrated”—the highest possible level of integration. Most surprisingly, fully 25 percent said that they were not at all integrated. The findings indicate that companies overall still have a long way to go on this key integration activity. Effective supply chain management requires and depends upon the outputs from demand management.