Is Business Intelligence different than Operational Reporting ?
I've been in IT a good long while, mostly as a database developer (Oracle and some sql server), now working in Business Objects on the Business Intelligence team.
I'm having a struggle understanding "Business Intelligence" in regards to day to day operations vs. a data warehouse perspective.
We use Business Objects Web Intelligence 3.1, soon to move to BI Suite 4.x, so adding Crystal Reports and Dashboards to our reporting stack. This is an institution of higher learning with a military component (ROTC), but all students are ROTC, so it's all integrated.
Virtually all of our reporting is operations. Grades, military grades (PT scores, evaluations), etc., all reporting is for current students.
Our BO universes simply point to the ERP system, and then universe of course makes it easy for the user to get their (simple) (operational) reports.
But - when I look at definitions of Business Intelligence, mostly what I see is "BI is focused on reporting and analysis of data residing in either enterprise data warehouses and/or data marts"., reference here., pg. 3
- So since we're reporting directly from the ERP system and not a data warehouse, is what we do NOT Business Intelligence ???
If we did have a data warehouse, it would simply be copying over data from the ERP system after 10 years or so, as is (nothing aggregated, it would simply be an archive). So our DW would be populated via ETL once a year - not daily, weekly, or monthly.
I'm having a struggle understanding "Business Intelligence" in regards to day to day operations vs. a data warehouse perspective.
We use Business Objects Web Intelligence 3.1, soon to move to BI Suite 4.x, so adding Crystal Reports and Dashboards to our reporting stack. This is an institution of higher learning with a military component (ROTC), but all students are ROTC, so it's all integrated.
Virtually all of our reporting is operations. Grades, military grades (PT scores, evaluations), etc., all reporting is for current students.
Our BO universes simply point to the ERP system, and then universe of course makes it easy for the user to get their (simple) (operational) reports.
But - when I look at definitions of Business Intelligence, mostly what I see is "BI is focused on reporting and analysis of data residing in either enterprise data warehouses and/or data marts"., reference here., pg. 3
- So since we're reporting directly from the ERP system and not a data warehouse, is what we do NOT Business Intelligence ???
If we did have a data warehouse, it would simply be copying over data from the ERP system after 10 years or so, as is (nothing aggregated, it would simply be an archive). So our DW would be populated via ETL once a year - not daily, weekly, or monthly.
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Michael,
thanks for weighing in. I agree, the terror age makes the constant study of business intelligence even more critical.
>>I can never escape being married to a constant student of law...
- I wish you the best - maybe one day you can escape.
Now, regarding my question . . . any thoughts ?
thanks for weighing in. I agree, the terror age makes the constant study of business intelligence even more critical.
>>I can never escape being married to a constant student of law...
- I wish you the best - maybe one day you can escape.
Now, regarding my question . . . any thoughts ?
ASKER
mlmcc,
thanks for the thoughts.
>>BI is really the transformation of raw data into useful and useable information
- good point. So for example, the raw grades data is transformed into GPA (although the ERP system actually does this).
>>The intent is generally to prevent the reporting of information from impacting the transactions being entered by users
- volume is very low, tens of thousands of rows is a big deal. Only the audit table might have 100,000 rows.
thanks for the thoughts.
>>BI is really the transformation of raw data into useful and useable information
- good point. So for example, the raw grades data is transformed into GPA (although the ERP system actually does this).
>>The intent is generally to prevent the reporting of information from impacting the transactions being entered by users
- volume is very low, tens of thousands of rows is a big deal. Only the audit table might have 100,000 rows.
Did I misinterpret your question? (If so I am very sorry.)
" This is an institution of higher learning with a military component (ROTC),"
Wife's company exports military grade technology and components, so I gave my 2 cents.
Again I apologize if I did not address you question as you wished... please specify what you want to be solved from your question in more detail, so that we can better understand and reply.
" This is an institution of higher learning with a military component (ROTC),"
Wife's company exports military grade technology and components, so I gave my 2 cents.
Again I apologize if I did not address you question as you wished... please specify what you want to be solved from your question in more detail, so that we can better understand and reply.
ASKER
Michael,
it's a college environment, with the students going to class, taking PT tests, etc. We're graduating officers, not exporting military technology or such.
Since we report directly from the ERP system (via a Universe) and not a data warehouse, I was questioning the definition of what we do, here:
But - when I look at definitions of Business Intelligence, mostly what I see is "BI is focused on reporting and analysis of data residing in either enterprise data warehouses and/or data marts"., reference here., pg. 3
- So since we're reporting directly from the ERP system and not a data warehouse, is what we do NOT Business Intelligence ???
Thx.
it's a college environment, with the students going to class, taking PT tests, etc. We're graduating officers, not exporting military technology or such.
Since we report directly from the ERP system (via a Universe) and not a data warehouse, I was questioning the definition of what we do, here:
But - when I look at definitions of Business Intelligence, mostly what I see is "BI is focused on reporting and analysis of data residing in either enterprise data warehouses and/or data marts"., reference here., pg. 3
- So since we're reporting directly from the ERP system and not a data warehouse, is what we do NOT Business Intelligence ???
Thx.
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mlmcc,
makes sense, thank you.
makes sense, thank you.
Regards for updated.
Early for me in Japan time...hope other EE members can help you while I sleep.
Early for me in Japan time...hope other EE members can help you while I sleep.
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Paul,
thank you, sorry I missed this before Thanksgiving. Very helpful.
>>Data does not have to be in either a "Data Warehouse" or "Data Matt" for BI to be true.
- That was my gut reaction. But as a new member on the "BI" team, I looked at TDWI and Ralph Kimball, and it seemed like through this that data warehouse is a prerequisite to BI, and I'm like, "Why ?" even tough it's all the rage.
>>Business Intelligence is the act of transforming "data" into actionable "intelligence";
- that makes perfect sense.
>>I think your definition starting point is too restrictive.
- great quote from CIO.com, I've included that in my writeup.
>>I would also like to say that terms like "ERP" and "Business Intelligence" are actually marketing devices that "analysts" create (for a fee) because if you "own the term you own the market". Business Objects (before they were bought by SAP) helped "invent" the term Business Intelligence because it adds a layer of mystery and excitement.
- very good point as well, and you've helped remove the mystery !
>> >>"Is Business Intelligence different than Operational Reporting ?"
>>my sort answer: "it depends on context"
- understood.
thank you, sorry I missed this before Thanksgiving. Very helpful.
>>Data does not have to be in either a "Data Warehouse" or "Data Matt" for BI to be true.
- That was my gut reaction. But as a new member on the "BI" team, I looked at TDWI and Ralph Kimball, and it seemed like through this that data warehouse is a prerequisite to BI, and I'm like, "Why ?" even tough it's all the rage.
>>Business Intelligence is the act of transforming "data" into actionable "intelligence";
- that makes perfect sense.
>>I think your definition starting point is too restrictive.
- great quote from CIO.com, I've included that in my writeup.
>>I would also like to say that terms like "ERP" and "Business Intelligence" are actually marketing devices that "analysts" create (for a fee) because if you "own the term you own the market". Business Objects (before they were bought by SAP) helped "invent" the term Business Intelligence because it adds a layer of mystery and excitement.
- very good point as well, and you've helped remove the mystery !
>> >>"Is Business Intelligence different than Operational Reporting ?"
>>my sort answer: "it depends on context"
- understood.
ASKER
thanks for the insights !
The "terror age " makes this a constant need for learning the daily changing rules and laws of the Business processes, especially when concerned with exports of materials and technologies.
My wife works in export control and is always bringing home the latest legal regulation requirement manuals to study from.
She can never escape constant study, and I can never escape being married to a constant student of law...