Business intelligence (BI) is defined as actionable information essential for leaders, emphasizing the quality of information over mere access. The document highlights the importance of understanding the audience and developing BI capabilities rather than focusing solely on data access. Effective BI can lead to reduced costs and improved operations by enhancing data quality and utility.

1. Business Intelligence What is it—really? Michael Meier

2. Who’s telling you this? Michael Meier Experienced in developing, implementing and growing business intelligence programs data management planning/execution (20 yrs) data warehousing, data architecture, data modeling, and data analysis. strategic planning staff development and mentorship small group facilitation “ finding a way” to deliver value

3. Business Intelligence Definition(s)

4. Business Intelligence Common: access to better, more timely, and more accurate information Much better: BI is “actionable” information for the business leader or manager

5. Business Intelligence Emphasis on “access” causes misdirection of effort I have access to garbage any time I need it I can can spend time and money improving access—but who cares? BI is what you need access to . Focus efforts on the information—not the access

6. BI: Strategic or Tactical? Actionable suggests tactical Situational awareness Best response Much current “BI” is finance related Response to financial situations is longer-term Revenue days in AR is useful information The suggested action is an initiative or project An action whose result may take months to appear

7. Don’t get caught up Understand the difference Executives need the longer-term view Trends = past facts Projections = future estimates Finance provides good indicators Line managers and supervisors need the “real time” view Need to respond to an imminent derailment Trends and projections both still useful The time frame for the BI shrinks Financial indicators have virtually no value

8. Who and Why Good BI requires Understanding Who will benefit Understanding Why they will benefit Why and Who lead us to How BI is a capability of our business We can’t demand BI before we create the capability Results in confusion, frustration, a big waste of resources (cost)

9. Visualize What do your data, a watershed and candy making have in common?

10. Flow and Control Identify problems as far upstream as possible Do not let problems contaminate downstream pools Design the flows to support product packaging

11. Actionable Understandable Current True Precise Usable What do I need to do? Why?

12. BI Infrastructure Governance must be applied top to bottom to assure that BI is actionable . This is the Data Management view of where BI comes from. Data Quality Meta Data Warehouse BI Data Infrastructure

13. BI Is Not Free This is the “business” view of where BI comes from. Processes Metrics (KPI) Analysis BI

14. The Good News You already have this underway Full benefits can be delivered with minimal capital investment When you’re done, your company with run much better Reduced costs Improved morale

15. BI Value (Improvement) Information Quality Improve the accuracy and reliability of data Improve data utility by clarifying and standardizing meaning Master Data Management Metadata Data Profiling

16. Conclusions Do you need BI? What are you waiting for ? No technology is going to make it happen. You have the skills and knowledge you need—though they may not know it yet If you need a guide, rent one. WhiteLake Data Management Do you have all the information you need? Do you know why?

17. WhiteLake Data Management http://m2dxtx.com (507) 273-9742