Frank Buytendijk Blog

Check out www.biguru-online.com from Jorgen Heizenberg. In a recent post he discusses the 10 Truths about BI.

1. We need one version of the truth

2. BI projects require a business driven approach.

3. BI development should be done incrementally.

4. BI projects needs high level sponsorship.

5. BI = decision making process.

6. BI is going to be real time (BI 2.0).

7. Information democracy: BI for everyone.

8.  BI cannot be outsourced.

9.  Merging: BI, CI, EI, EPM, CPM, BIM...

10. BI is the answer to everything.

In this post Jorgen contradicts the bottom 5. Let me pick a few and provide some input too.

BI cannot be outsourced

Many BI professionals claim BI cannot be outsourced, it is too specific and too nteractive. I think that is not the case. In fact, if you lack the skills needed for BI, outsourcing can be the most strategic thing to do, to benefit from BI. In fact, if you outsource things, including BI, it forces you to think how to manage the process, and keep control over it. In many organizations where BI is not outsourced, there is no such clear view.

BI is about Information Democracy

Do you really think people are looking forward to a transparent business where your contribution to the overall results is really visible, and where everyone has access to the right data? I would argue most managers do not. Knowledge is still power. It is not in their best interest to live in a transparent world. Other than that, you can argue that for REALLY strategic BI you need to have insight that others don't have, so that you have a first-mover advantage. BI for the masses may contain all the bread-and-butter information, the real stuff is still very exclusive of nature.

All BI will be real-time

Most problems take care of themselves, if you give them some time. Think about when you have been out of the office for a few days. First, you'll find an email saying "Hi, I really need your help urgently," and a few mails later "Never mind, problem solved." There is a hierarchy in an organization for a reason, to deal with stuff that never reaches the level of senior management. Let's assume they all of a sudden have a real-time BI system in which they see all these little details. The shock will be enormous, "where does this mess come from?" Once problems reach the executive level, executives are used to firm responses, and this will be the case here as well. But these little problems were always there, and were dealt with in a normal way. Too much real-time information will not give you additional control, you'll lose it.

BI supports the decision-making process

Yes, but amongst other things. BI also supports justification, external reporting to shareholders, regulators and society. And the 3^rd purpose of BI is to influence people's behaviors. Providing feedback motivates people. Purely using BI for decision-making processes greatly limits your business case.

In general, I don't believe in "truths."  I believe in thinking for yourself. My best practice could be your worst nightmare. Insight comes from challenging your beliefs and assumptions. What is your Top 10 of BI Truths and Myths?

frank