The document discusses Business Dimensional Modeling (BDM), an approach to data modeling that focuses on ease of use and query performance. BDM captures relationships between business attributes and dimensions of facts from an end user perspective. It defines how users can access answers through drill paths and hierarchies. The document advocates engaging business users, automating processes like date dimension modeling, and using BDM and automated tools to improve BI project satisfaction rates. It provides tips for changing behaviors like partnering closely with the business and establishing focused teams to deliver BI solutions that meet objectives.

1. Build BI Apps Users Will Love With Business Dimensional Modeling Featuring Laura Reeves 1

2. Industry thought leader and educator Pioneered Business Dimensional Modeling Architected and developed over 300 data warehouses / BI solutions for over 100 clients Principal of StarSoft Solutions Inc., a consulting services firm focused on planning and designing high value, high performance Data Warehouse (DW) and BI Systems Author of A Manager’s Guide to Data Warehousing and co-author of the first edition of The Data Warehouse Lifecycle Toolkit Teaches internationally on dimensional modeling and managing the Data Warehouse Lifecycle Laura Reeves 2

4. WHY and HOW you want to use BDM and project automation as part of your delivery process

5. How companies are applying it to make project success rates soar

7. “Business intelligence, or BI, is a variety of software applications used to analyze an organization’s raw data. Companies use BI to improve decision making, cut costs and identify new business opportunities. Business intelligence applications store and present key enterprise data so that anyone in a company can quickly and easily ask questions of accurate and timely data.” 5

8. Simply put, BI delivers a data smorgasbord

10. #2 Most important technology (after anti-virus)

11. $7.5B (2008) growing at 6.3% CAGR to $10.2B (2013)7

12. And project velocity and demand continues to increase. “Agile BI: 1.) get development done faster; 2.) react quickly to changing business requirements” Source: Agile BI Out of the Box, April22, 2010. 8

13. ? So, What Do Users Have To Say About Bi Project Delivery 9

15. Satisfied

16. Somewhat Satisfied

17. Not Satisfied 10

18. NCC Survey: 87% of BI Projects miss objectives 11

20. System doesn’t have the data I need - 65%

21. Can’t ask the questions I need to - 55% Source: NCC Survey Any of this sound familiar?

22. THE FIVE DREADED HOT ZONES Where we get burned every time! 1. We’ve made BI a technology, not a business solution 2. We do the work and tell the users it is what they need 3. We figure the latest BI tool will fix the problem 4. We believe BI is easy and therefore anyone can do it 5. We don’t follow a standard discipline (like our application development counterparts or each project to themselves!)

23. ? 14

24. But, there is a stairway to heaven. 15

25. How do I create the stairway to heaven? BI Nirvana How do I get there? BI Utopia Change behavior; automate the process Change behavior Automate everything Step #2 Engage the business Engage the business 16

26. How do I create the stairway to heaven? BI Nirvana How do I get there? BI Utopia Change behavior; automate the process Change behavior Automate everything Step #2 Engage the business Engage the business 17

27. Step 1: Engage the Business We show them everything under the hood…. 18

28. When all they want is a brochure, test drive and have confidence that it’s going to work. Business Dimensional Modeling provides the brochure. Brochure and driving experience 19

29. ? what is BUSINESS DIMENSIONALMODELING 20

30. The Business Dimensional ModelTM (BDM) is a data model that captures relationships between business attributes and the dimensionality of facts in end user terms. This conceptual multi-dimensional model easily translates into both logical and physical database designs. Like a map,theBDM defines the ways users can get to the answers they are looking for. 21

31. BDM focuses on ease of use and query performance Query Performance Ease of Use Ensures data presentation makes sense to the business Provides technical depth and performance speed 22

33. Customers

34. Products

35. Dates

36. The relationship between dimensional attributes creates drill paths and hierarchies

37. Measurements of business events

38. Measured & monitored over time

39. Amounts and counts - the basis for all calculations

40. Examples:

41. Units ordered

42. Retail price

43. Amount paid

44. Gross margin

45. Revenue forecast

46. Loan balance23 A BDM is comprised of dimensions and facts

47. Ease of use example: Mapping the way users want to look at dates. Calendar Year CY 2010 Calendar Quarter CY 2010 Q2 Calendar Month CY 2010 M07 Day 2010-07-07 24

48. Ease of use example: Mapping the way users want to look at dates. Calendar Year Fiscal Year CY 2010 Calendar Quarter Fiscal Quarter CY 2010 Q2 Calendar Month Fiscal Month Calendar Week Day of Week Week Fiscal Week CY 2010 M07 CW 28 4-Wednesday Day 2010-07-07 25

49. Ease of use example: Mapping the way users want tolook at their Customers Customer Country USA Customer State PA - Pennsylvania Customer City Philadelphia, PA Customer Acme Widgets, Inc. 26

50. Ease of use example: Mapping the way users want tolook at their Customers Customer Country USA Customer State PA - Pennsylvania Customer City Customer Zip Code Philadelphia, PA 19115 Customer Region Customer Date of 1st Purchase Prospect Indicator Customer Status Customer Acme Widgets, Inc. 27

51. Example facts: Call Center Calls 28

52. Example fact group design: Call Center Calls Dimension Date Day Grain (level of detail) Calls FactGroup Customer Customer 29

53. Example fact group design: Call Center Calls Dimension Date Day Grain (level of detail) Time Minute Call Outcome Call Outcome Calls FactGroup Customer Customer Call Call Transac-tion Employee Employee 30

54. The model in action: How it works Date Customer Regions # of Calls Customer 31

55. The model in action: How it works Date Customer Regions # of Calls Calls Customer 32

57. Optimizing for high performance= User satisfaction 33

58. ? QUESTIONS 34

59. How do I create the stairway to heaven? BI Nirvana How do I get there? BI Utopia Change behavior; automate the process Change behavior Automate everything Step #2 Engage the business Engage the business 35

60. Step 2: Automate everything 36

61. Automating a date dimension 37

62. Automating a date dimension 38

63. Automating a fact group design 39

64. Automating a fact group design 40

65. Align your business vocabulary with built in Collaboration Approval Process? A product, platform, or service that our company sells or intends to sell to customers to generate revenue. 41

66. Align your business vocabulary with built in Collaboration I like the word “offering” as a more succinct way to say “product/platform or service.” Approval Process? Should be “customer or prospect” A product, platform, or service that our company sells or intends to sell to customers to generate revenue. Facilitated Resolution 42

67. 43 Test Drive

68. Business Specific Subject Area generates your ? BI Solution from a business model User Access Layer BI Platform Query, Report, OLAP, Predictive Subject Area Data Mart(s) OLAP Cubes Balanced Insight Consensus® Online Wiki, Rapid Deployment Knowledgebase Data Warehouse (EDW) Landing Area (ODS) System Intake (ETL) Oracle Apps SAP … Lawson 44

69. We have the brochure (BDM) and we now can test drive. The BI test drive is automated through Consensus 45

71. How do I create the stairway to heaven? BI Nirvana How do I get there? BI Utopia Change behavior Change behavior; automate the process Automate everything Step #2 Engage the business Engage the business

73. Partner with the business

74. Adjust expectations to reality

75. Celebrate progressChanging Behavior: 4 Keys to Getting BI Right

77. Include both Business and IT representation

78. Get organized:

79. BI Competency Center (BICC)

80. BI Center of Excellence (BICOE)

81. BI Solution Center (BISC)49

83. Speak in business terms

84. Educate business communityabout BI

85. Collaborate

86. LISTEN!50

88. Make choices that deliver business value

89. Be fiscally responsible

90. COMMUNICATE!51

92. Measure success one stepat a time

93. Keep momentum going52

94. So, here’s what you need to do…(no need to write it down, we will email it to you) Engage with the Business Ask the business what they think of you & your team Ask the business how you could be better Educate yourself on BDM Buy Laura’s book (some lucky folks will get one free for attending today) Attend Laura’s course (next 2/13 @ TDWI Las Vegas) Ask us about Laura’s onsite courses (1 to 3 days) Begin to develop and document your Business Dimensional Model(s) Give your next BI Application a Test Drive Get a demonstration of Consensus Establish a proof project for Consensus and BDM 53

95. Thank you. Tom Hammergren Laura Reeves EMAIL: tom.hammergren@balancedinsight.com PHONE: 513.322.1646 (o) TWITTER: @thammergren or @balancedinsight BLOG: www.balancedinsight.com/blog WEB: www.balancedinsight.com EMAIL: laura@starsoftinc.com PHONE: 630.971.3782 WEB: www.starsoftinc.com 54