Business Intelligence for the Enterprise
Published on 19. June 2003
Book
Paperback/Softback
240 pages
978-0-13-141303-0 (ISBN)
Description
The Business Intelligence space is one fraught with vendors, tools, and opinions of how best to implement BI solutions. This book addresses key areas of BI such as data structure and delivery, tools evaluation, and more. The subject areas are presented from the author's point of view and experiences. At the heart of the materials are points to ponder, food for thought, and significant errors to avoid. Business Intelligence is the conscious, methodical transformation of data from any and all data sources into new forms to provide information that is business driven and results oriented. It will often encompass a mixture of tools, databases, vendors in order to deliver an infrastructure that not only will deliver the initial solution, but it will incorporate the ability to change with the business and current marketplace. The purpose of investing in BI is to transform from an environment that is reactive to data to one that is proactive. A major goal of the solution will be to automate and integrate as many steps and functions as possible. Another goal is to provide data analytics that are as tool independent as possible.
More details
Person
MIKE BIERE is Worldwide Sales Specialist for Business Intelligence Analytics Tools for IBM Corporation. He has more than 20 years' experience in business intelligence-related technologies, working in every stage of the BI project lifecycle, and in every role from sales and marketing to product development and technical support.
Content
1. Introduction to Business Intelligence.
2. Defining Business Intelligence.
Query Tools. Data Warehouse Processes. BI Biases and Internal Squabbles. Establishing a More Global BI Perspective. BI at the Business Unit and Departmental Levels. BI at the Enterprise Level. Hindsight "Rules". Intranets/Extranets-Data and Analysis Within You and Without You. Know Your User Base.
3. The History of Business Intelligence.
The Early End-User Computing Era. The Information Center Era. Charge-Back Systems. Personal Computers. The Client/Server Wave. The Information Warehouse Concept. The Data Warehouse Era of BI. Advanced Analytics: Delivering Information to "Mahogany Row". BI Milestones.
4. The Impact of Business Intelligence.
The IT Department and Business Intelligence. Non-Technical End Users and Business Intelligence. Business Analysts and Business Intelligence. External End Users-The Extranet Environment. Business Intelligence and the Enterprise.
5. Content Management and Unstructured Data.
Industry-Related Content Management Areas. Why a Relational Database Can't Solve This.
6. End-User Segmentation.
End-User Segmentation. End-User Attributes. A Holistic View of the Users.
7. Elements of Business Intelligence Solutions.
Data Warehouse versus Data Marts. Setting Up Information for BI Processing. Data Extraction, Transformation, and Cleansing. The Data Side of BI. The Analytics Tools. End-User Assumptions about Tools. The Spreadsheet's Role in BI. The Three Major Categories of BI Analytics Tools. Query and Reporting Tools. Time and Date Elements in Reporting. OLAP Tools. Data Mining Tools. Advanced Analytics-Executive Information Systems (EIS).
8. Justifying Business Intelligence Solutions.
ROI: Return on Investment. Business Impact Justification. The True Costs of BI. Big Purchase with No Plan. Bringing in the "Hired Guns". Your Justification Scenario.
9. Corporate Performance Management (CPM) and the Executive View of Business Intelligence.
Data Readiness and Availability for CPM. Role-Based Analytics. Pushing Information: Proactive BI-Effective Communication. Buy or Build CPM. A Viable Approach to CPM.
10. Platform Selection, Technology Biases, and Other "Traps".
Traditional IT Traps. The BI Trap. Evaluating Analytics Usage for User Populations. The Database Is the Most Critical Choice. How Well Do Your Approved BI Tools Support the Database Decision? A "Typical" History Lesson.
11. End-User Support and Productivity.
BI Products Are Still Computer-Based. A "Straw Person" Scenario. Setting Up BI Support.
12. Implementation for Business Intelligence Solutions.
Back Up and Restore What You Have Already Done. System Sizing, Measurements, and Dependencies. Setting Early Expectations and Measuring the Results. End-User Provisos. Recap the First Project, and Tune Your Support and Implementation Models. OLAP Implementations. Expanding BI Based on What You Now Know. Establishing a BI Competency Center (BICC).
13. Planning for the Future-What's the Next Wave of Business Intelligence?
Advanced Analytics. Database Enhancements and BI. Thinner and Thinner Clients. Data Formats with BI Aspects. Portals. BI Networks. Conclusion.
Appendix A: Checklist for BI Planning.
Corporate BI Strategy. End-User Support Strategy. Database and Tools Strategy. Intranet and Extranet Strategy.
About the Author.
Index.
2. Defining Business Intelligence.
Query Tools. Data Warehouse Processes. BI Biases and Internal Squabbles. Establishing a More Global BI Perspective. BI at the Business Unit and Departmental Levels. BI at the Enterprise Level. Hindsight "Rules". Intranets/Extranets-Data and Analysis Within You and Without You. Know Your User Base.
3. The History of Business Intelligence.
The Early End-User Computing Era. The Information Center Era. Charge-Back Systems. Personal Computers. The Client/Server Wave. The Information Warehouse Concept. The Data Warehouse Era of BI. Advanced Analytics: Delivering Information to "Mahogany Row". BI Milestones.
4. The Impact of Business Intelligence.
The IT Department and Business Intelligence. Non-Technical End Users and Business Intelligence. Business Analysts and Business Intelligence. External End Users-The Extranet Environment. Business Intelligence and the Enterprise.
5. Content Management and Unstructured Data.
Industry-Related Content Management Areas. Why a Relational Database Can't Solve This.
6. End-User Segmentation.
End-User Segmentation. End-User Attributes. A Holistic View of the Users.
7. Elements of Business Intelligence Solutions.
Data Warehouse versus Data Marts. Setting Up Information for BI Processing. Data Extraction, Transformation, and Cleansing. The Data Side of BI. The Analytics Tools. End-User Assumptions about Tools. The Spreadsheet's Role in BI. The Three Major Categories of BI Analytics Tools. Query and Reporting Tools. Time and Date Elements in Reporting. OLAP Tools. Data Mining Tools. Advanced Analytics-Executive Information Systems (EIS).
8. Justifying Business Intelligence Solutions.
ROI: Return on Investment. Business Impact Justification. The True Costs of BI. Big Purchase with No Plan. Bringing in the "Hired Guns". Your Justification Scenario.
9. Corporate Performance Management (CPM) and the Executive View of Business Intelligence.
Data Readiness and Availability for CPM. Role-Based Analytics. Pushing Information: Proactive BI-Effective Communication. Buy or Build CPM. A Viable Approach to CPM.
10. Platform Selection, Technology Biases, and Other "Traps".
Traditional IT Traps. The BI Trap. Evaluating Analytics Usage for User Populations. The Database Is the Most Critical Choice. How Well Do Your Approved BI Tools Support the Database Decision? A "Typical" History Lesson.
11. End-User Support and Productivity.
BI Products Are Still Computer-Based. A "Straw Person" Scenario. Setting Up BI Support.
12. Implementation for Business Intelligence Solutions.
Back Up and Restore What You Have Already Done. System Sizing, Measurements, and Dependencies. Setting Early Expectations and Measuring the Results. End-User Provisos. Recap the First Project, and Tune Your Support and Implementation Models. OLAP Implementations. Expanding BI Based on What You Now Know. Establishing a BI Competency Center (BICC).
13. Planning for the Future-What's the Next Wave of Business Intelligence?
Advanced Analytics. Database Enhancements and BI. Thinner and Thinner Clients. Data Formats with BI Aspects. Portals. BI Networks. Conclusion.
Appendix A: Checklist for BI Planning.
Corporate BI Strategy. End-User Support Strategy. Database and Tools Strategy. Intranet and Extranet Strategy.
About the Author.
Index.