The document discusses best practices for designing dimensions and models in BPC (Business Planning and Consolidation) software. It warns of potential issues with nested rows/columns, heavy reliance on properties, and users copying data to personal spreadsheets. The document recommends going beyond existing data structures and hierarchies to better match business needs, embracing alternate hierarchies, combining or concatenating dimensions, and prioritizing performance and user acceptance over administrative maintenance. The goal is to make reporting and analysis easier rather than harder in BPC.

1. BPC: Do you
have the right
design?
Brian Tyson

2. The red
flags of
BPC
design

3. Reports are
hard to write

4. Lots of nested
rows or
columns

5. Heavy
reliance on
properties
If property equals, then…
Total by property
IF
THEN
Total by property

6. Users copy data
out into their
own
spreadsheets
BPC
Excel
Report
Personal
Excel File

7. Users
disappointed
with lack of
flexibility

8. A dimension only
supports a very small
or specific need, and
constantly is worked
around in reports

9. BPC should not
be where
compromises
are being made

10. BPC is a solution
by the business
for the business

11. Goal is to make
the job easier,
not harder

12. Trying to prevent
Loss of interest
in BPC
Users creating
their own silo
spreadsheets
Project failure
It
doesn’t
work…
Personal
Excel Files

13. Existing master
data, hierarchies
and properties
might not
represent how
processes are
performed or
data is analyzed

14. Go outside the
box…
beyond
existing
structures,
hierarchies and
master data

15. Embrace alternate
hierarchies
… but not too many

16. Combine
dimensions…
No right or wrong.
Just what is right for
your business process?
Profit Center Group
Cost Center
Profit Center
Cost Center
Cost Center
PC_CC Dim

17. …or
Concatenate
dimensions
What makes sense
for your company?
Account Groups
FA + Account
Functional Areas
FA + Account
FA + Account
Account Dim

18. The Pros
Efficient
models
Light and
easy
templates
Happy
users

19. The Cons
Unique
dimensions
Custom
hierarchies
Additional
maintenance

20. Performance and user
acceptance will always win
over administrative
maintenance

21. Keep an open mind
when designing your
BPC dimensions and
models

22. Thanks for
viewing
Brian Tyson
tyson@sandpointc.com