Transcript Agile Approach to the Development of BI Solution

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Chapter 8:
Development of Business
Intelligence
© Sabherwal & Becerra-Fernandez
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Outline
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BI Solutions
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Characteristics of Good BI Solutions
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Sourcing of BI Solutions
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Methodology for Developing BI Solutions
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Steps in the Development of the BI solution
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BI Solutions … #1
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The four BI capabilities come together in a BI solution
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Developed for, and deployed within, a client organization
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A BI solution utilizes the BI tools to deliver the information
and knowledge that facilitate decision-making
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An organization could adopt multiple BI solutions
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BI Solutions … #2
BI Solution(s)
BI Capabilities
Organizational
Memory
Information
Integration
BI Tools
© Sabherwal & Becerra-Fernandez
Insight
Creation
Other Technologies (e.g.,
Data Warehouse, Data
Mining)
Presentation
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Characteristics of Good BI
Solutions … #1
Characteristic essential in both short and long term
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Alignment – fit with business strategy and processes
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Intelligence – provide new and valuable insight
3.
Usability – should be easy to use
4.
Accuracy – based on clean and accurate data
5.
Connectivity – effective interfaces with other ITs
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Characteristics of Good BI
Solutions … #2
Characteristic essential in the long term
6.
Flexibility – should be easily and quickly modifiable
7.
Portability – should work on different software and
hardware platforms
8.
Scalability – should be expandable as users and volume
of data increase
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Sourcing of BI Solutions
Development of BI Solution
External
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Two major aspects:
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Source of tools and technologies
How the BI solution is developed
Three possibilities each
Joint
Internal
Internal
Internal & External
External
Sources of BI Tools and Technologies
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Sourcing of BI Solutions (contd.)
Broad BI Approaches to Sourcing of BI Solutions
Development of BI Solution
External
IV. Outsourced
Development
With Some
Internal BI Tools
V. Complete
Outsourcing
III. Utilization of Tools Acquired from
Vendors (possibly with some internal tools)
in Joint Development
Joint
I. Completely
In-house
Development
II. Utilization of Tools Acquired from
Vendors (possibly with some internal tools)
in In-house Development
Internal
Internal
© Sabherwal & Becerra-Fernandez
Internal & External
External
Sources of BI Tools and Technologies
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Sourcing of BI Solutions (contd.)
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Three major decisions in the selection of vendors and tools
as part of the development of BI solution.
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Strategic or Tactical Buying – establish long-term strategic
relationships with few preferred vendors or select vendors with
best options for a particular need
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Mega-Vendors or Independent BI Vendors – both have
advantages and disadvantages
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Standardization or Multiple Options - extent of standardization
depends on factors such as prior experience with BI, competence
of the internal IT staff, and available resources (see figure on next
slide)
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Sourcing of BI Solutions (contd.)
Selection of One or Multiple Vendors for BI Tools and Technologies
Mixing niche vendors becomes more useful
Focusing on one large vendor becomes more useful
BI Capabilities
Organizational
Memory
Information
Integration
Insight Creation
BI Tools and
Technologies
• Data Warehousing
• ERP
• Knowledge
Repositories
• Digital Content
Management
tools
• Document
Management
tools
• Business
Analytics tools
• Data Mining
• Real-time Decision
Support
• Text Mining tools
• Web Mining tools
• Environmental
Scanning
• RFID
Presentation
• OLAP tools
• Visualization
tools
• Digital
Dashboards
• Scorecarding
tools
• BPM tools
Note: The highlighted tools have emerged along with development of BI, whereas the others have been
adapted from other technologies to support BI.
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Methodology for Developing BI
Solutions
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Two distinct approaches to software development are
relevant in the context of development of BI solutions
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Waterfall development
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Agile development
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Methodology for Developing BI
Solutions: Waterfall development
 Strictly
sequential process – follow the
steps
 Finish
one step before moving to the next
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Methodology for Developing BI
Solutions: Waterfall approach, #2
Plan
Waterfall Approach to the
Development of BI Solution
Analyze
Design
Build
Deploy
Review
Project Start
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Project End
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Methodology for Developing BI
Solutions: Agile development
 Iterative
process – repeat the sequence of
steps multiple times
 Break
the task into smaller chunks – make
them work and build upon them
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Methodology for Developing BI
Solutions: Agile approach, #2
Agile Approach to the
Development of BI Solution
Iteration 1
Iteration 2
Plan
Plan
Analyze
Analyze
Design
Design
Build
Build
Deploy
Deploy
Review
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Review
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Steps in the Development of the BI
Solution … #1
 Primary
Development Steps:
 Plan
– Objectives, alignment, scope,
deliverables, cost-benefit analysis, infrastructure,
staffing, and organizational involvement
 Analyze – model processes, develop metrics, get
users involved, and assess organizational
readiness
 Design – create detailed design specifications
pertaining to organizational memory, information
integration, insight creation, and presentation
capabilities
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Steps in the Development of the BI
Solution … #2
Primary
Development Steps
(continued):
 Build
– create the solution (or a pilot
version) using the design specifications
 Deploy – test the current iteration, train
users and support staff, roll-out the BI
solution
 Review – evaluate the BI solution. Are
stakeholders satisfied? What works? What
doesn’t work? What can be improved?...
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Steps in the Development of the BI
Solution (contd.)
PRIMARY DEVELOPMENT STEPS
Plan
Analyze
Design
Build
Management of BI
Iterate
© Sabherwal & Becerra-Fernandez
Deploy
Review
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Recap
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Examined BI solutions and their desired characteristics
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Described the process associated with the sourcing of BI
solutions and tools
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Described the overall approach to developing BI solutions, and
the development of BI solutions
© Sabherwal & Becerra-Fernandez
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Key Terms
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agile development
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internal development
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analysis
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outsourced development
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business intelligence vendors
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planning
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business intelligence
development
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review
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sourcing
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waterfall development
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business intelligence solutions
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deployment
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design
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development
© Sabherwal & Becerra-Fernandez