Financial Business Intelligence
Trends, Technology, Software Selection, and Implementation
Published on 1. October 2002
304 pages
978-0-471-26785-0 (ISBN)
Description
Turn storehouses of data into a strategic tool
Business intelligence has recently become a word used by almostevery CFO, controller, and analyst. After having spent the lastdecade implementing Enterprise Resource Planning software and othermission critical solutions, companies now have large databases withtransactional data sitting in their computer rooms. Now, finally,the technology has reached a point where it is possible- in almostreal time-to quickly and easily analyze the financial data in thecorporate databases, to be able to make more intelligent businessdecisions. This book will help financial managers understand thetrends, technology, software selection, and implementation offinancial business intelligence (financial BI) software. With adictionary of business intelligence terms, a comprehensive list ofRequest for Proposal questions, and examples of popular financialbusiness intelligence reroutes and user interfaces, this bookenables managers to measure their companies' business intelligenceand maximize its value.
Reviews / Votes
Being competitive in the Information Age demands that organizationsnot simply collect data, but that they excel using that data todrive better decisions, faster. Financial Business Intelligence:Trends, Technology, Software Selection, and Implementation servesas a good starting point for finance aspects of leading edgebusiness intelligence efforts, efforts that are necessary to win intoday's competitive markets." (Bob Lokken, CEO ProClarity Corp.) This book is a must-have reference for any company that isserious about creating value through business intelligence. Likehis previous books on finance, Mr. Rasmussen's approach isstraightforward, comprehensive, and objective. Companies thatchoose not to learn the language of financial business intelligencewill be illiterate and unable to communicate value to itsshareholders and business community. Mr. Rasmussen's book is theultimate lexicon for financial and business professionalsinterested in establishing a dialogue. Mr. Rasmussen is keenly aware of the revolution that is coming infinancial business intelligence. Today, his book is a must-read forfinancial and IT professionals, but tomorrow, his book will be asurvival guide for all business executives. Mr. Rasmussen has put a roadmap into the hands of every financialprofessional who has been lost or wanted guidance in conceiving asystem and strategy for financial business intelligence. Mr. Rasmussen has the gift of genius in distilling the complex andabstruse into the simple and obvious. His practical book onfinancial business intelligence leverages the power of organizedthinking and processes into corporate value creation. This book is a significant milestone in business intelligence and amust-have reference for any business professional interested indeveloping financial business intelligence tools that can bereadily adopted by an organization. (Edward Hwang Director ofFinancial Planning Earthlink, Inc.)More details
Other editions
Additional editions
Nils Rasmussen | Paul S. Goldy | Per O. Solli
Financial Business Intelligence
Trends, Technology, Software Selection and Implementation
Book
01/2002
Wiley
€40.31
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Content
Foreword.
Introduction.
Part One: Evolution of Financial Business Intelligence.
1. History and Future of Business Intelligence.
History of BI.
Trends.
2. Leveraging the Power of Business Intelligence Tools.
New Breed of Business Intelligence Tools.
3. Why Consider a Financial BI Tool in Your Organization?
Defining the Financial Datawarehouse.
What Is Your Company's Business Intelligence Readiness?
Part Two: BI Technology.
4. Platforms and Differences in Technology.
Financial and Nonfinancially Focused Tools.
Who Are the Players?
Unix versus Microsoft as a Platform Choice.
5. Performance: Getting Information on Time.
Fast Enough for Your Business.
Periodicity Considerations.
Data Storage Methodology (ROLAP, MOLAP, or HOLAP?).
6. Building the Datawarehouse/Mart.
Important Success Factors.
Using Financial Data Sources.
Staging Data for Financial Analysis.
7. Front-end Analytic Tools.
Specialized BI Tools.
Real-Time Analysis: Myth or Reality (TechnologyPerspective).
Excel Add-Ins.
Traditional Report Writer versus OLAP-Based Analysis Tools.
8. Security.
Role-Based Access.
Internet Security: Only as Good as Your Barriers.
9. The Internet's Impact on Business Intelligence.
Everyone's a Player.
What Is a Portal?
How Do I Deliver BI Information for the Internet?
Part Three: Software Evaluation and Selection.
10. Selecting a Business Intelligence Solution.
Create a Plan.
Using a Software Selection Company.
11. Software Evaluation: Factors to Consider.
Expected Use Now and in the Future.
Getting the Rest of the Company to Buy in to the Process.
Cost/Benefit Analysis.
Return on Investment Analysis.
Features and Flexibility.
Compatibility with Existing Software.
Ease of Use.
Software Stability.
Vendor-Related Items.
Working with an Implementation Partner.
How to Select: Summary.
12. Outsourcing: The New Alternative.
How It Works.
When You Should Consider an Application Service Provider.
Selection Criteria for an Application Service Provider.
Ensuring Continuous Success.
13. Buyer's Guide.
Query and Reporting Systems.
Decision Support Systems.
OLAP.
Enterprise Information Portals.
Datawarehouse Software.
Extraction, Transformation, and Loading Tools Vendors.
eLearning Tools Vendors.
Part Four: Implementing a Business Intelligence System.
14. Project Planning.
Business Intelligence Project Dos.
Business Intelligence Project Don'ts.
Drafting and Executing the Project Plan.
Sample Project Plan.
15. Datawarehouse or Data Mart?
16. Multidimensional Model Definition.
Defining Dimension Hierarchies and Dimension Types.
Multidimensional Schemas: Star and Snowflake.
17. Model Maintenance.
Periodicity Considerations.
Slowly Changing Dimensions.
More Help in Maintaining Dimensions.
18. Financial Data Modeling.
Data Collection.
Extending Your Financial Vision!
Balance Sheet.
19. Survey of Datawarehouse Users.
The Survey.
Analysis of Responses.
Appendix A: Sample RFP.
Appendix B: Software Candidate Evaluation and Rating Sheet.
Appendix C: Sample License Agreement.
Appendix D: Sample Confidentiality and NondisclosureAgreement.
(Sales/Demo Process).
Appendix E: Sample Support Plan/Agreement.
Appendix F: Sample Project Plan.
Appendix G: Sample Consulting Agreement.
Appendix H: Vendor Addresses.
Appendix I: References and Further Reading.
Glossary.
Index.
