Business Intelligence Essay-Arsh D.
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University of Texas, Dallas *
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2302
Subject
Information Systems
Date
Apr 3, 2024
Type
docx
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8
Uploaded by CommodoreNeutron102
Arsh Durrani
ITSS 4351.001
Professor Timothy Stephens
2/12/2024
Using Analytics for Business Intelligence - SharpenThePencil.com
In the rapidly evolving landscape of e-commerce, the integration of Business Intelligence
(BI) has become very important for organizations that are seeking to extract actionable insights from their data. This essay details how to address the Chief Information Officer's (CIO) request at SharpenThePencil.com, which is the creation of BI reports for a new web-based sales portal. The focus of this essay will be on the process of clarifying the request, confirming deliverables, and detailing the approach in designing a BI database that caters to ad hoc reporting needs.
I. Clarifying the Request
Initial Meeting:
The first step for this analysis and development assignment would be scheduling a comprehensive meeting with the CIO and the web developer as it is imperative to understand exactly what is required. This meeting serves as the foundation for understanding the goals, technical requirements, and unique challenges for the implementation of the web-based sales portal. General questions should be asked, such as the scope of the project, the anticipated scale of user interaction, the complexity of the sales processes, and how deep the analytical insights will be.
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This initial meeting should also touch upon the technical infrastructure of the web-based sales portal. Understanding the underlying architecture, the databases in use, and any existing analytics tools would provide context for the upcoming phases of the BI database design.
Furthermore, exploration of the CIO's vision for the BI reports is essential. Which key performance indicators (KPIs) are being considered? Do any specific aspects, such as sales by customer, sales by product, customer locations, or shipping analysis, demand immediate attention? Engaging in a detailed conversation will help to establish a solid roadmap for the upcoming phases of the project.
Stakeholder Engagement:
After the initial meeting with the CIO and web developer, identifying and engaging with the key stakeholders is critical. The success of the BI reports relies heavily on incorporating the perspectives and requirements of various stakeholders within the organization. This could include representatives from marketing, sales, logistics, and customer service departments. Involving all relevant stakeholders and collecting insights will ensure that the BI reports cater to the needs of the organization.
Documenting Requirements:
The insights gained from the initial meeting and stakeholder engagements need to be documented. Creating a comprehensive list of BI requirements will serve as a roadmap for the next phases of the project. This document should be detailed, outlining not only the requested 2
reports but also the specific metrics, dimensions, and visualizations that the stakeholders have determined are important.
To prioritize requirements, a collaborative approach involving the CIO and key stakeholders is recommended. By collectively determining the significance of each requirement, the company can allocate resources efficiently and ensure that the BI solution aligns with the organization's objectives.
II. Confirming Deliverables
Discussion with CIO:
Building upon the insights gathered in the initial meeting, a detailed discussion with the CIO is crucial to confirm the expected deliverables. This involves revisiting the outlined BI requirements, verifying the technical specifications, and discussing the preferred format for the reports.
During this discussion, it is very important to address any potential constraints, such as budget limitations or time constraints. Flexibility should be taken into account when clarifying the scope
and requirements of the project, as the needs or phases of the project can change over time. Clear
communication regarding the project's scope and constraints ensures a realistic and achievable roadmap for the development of BI reports.
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Aligning with Stakeholders:
The confirmation of deliverables extends beyond the CIO to include key stakeholders. Sharing the proposed BI report deliverables with stakeholders ensures that their expectations are taken into account and incorporated accurately. This step is crucial for collaboration and ensuring that the BI reports serve the collective needs of the organization. Feedback from stakeholders may lead to refinements in the proposed deliverables. By actively involving end-users in the validation process, we can mitigate risks and ensure that the expectations and outcomes of the project are aligned with the interests of all the involved parties. Defining Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) guide the organization towards its strategic goals. Collaborating with stakeholders to identify and define relevant KPIs for each report is a critical step. This involves examining the organization's objectives and selection of metrics that reflect performance. Establishing measurable objectives ensures that the BI reports are more than just data visualization. The defined KPIs also play a pivotal role in evaluating the effectiveness of the
BI solution over time.
III. Designing the BI Database
Database Architecture:
The first step in designing a BI database is selecting an appropriate database model. Many choices could be made between a relational database, star schema, or other models depending on the nature of the data and the reporting requirements. For the scenario at SharpenThePencil.com, 4
we are looking at sales and shipping analysis. This is transactional data, so a relational database model would be most suitable.
Defining tables, relationships, and primary/foreign keys is the next step in establishing database architecture. This process involves organizing data in a manner that not only aligns with the current reporting needs but also anticipates future sales forecasts or organizational expansion needs. An example of this would be separating tables for sales, customers, and shipping. These tables could then be further divided into sub-tables such as customer ID, sales ID, product ID, or shipping locations. When selecting tables, first ensure they are normalized and when selecting keys, make sure they are related. Data Integration:
The success of a BI database is based on the quality and integration of data. In the context of SharpenThePencil.com, data sources are likely to be diverse, ranging from the web-based sales portal that is under construction, to customer relationship management (CRM) systems and shipping databases.
The process of integrating the data would start by extracting data from these sources, standardizing the data, and then transforming that data to later be loaded into our database. The above steps would help ensure that data is not only cleansed and standardized but also transformed to align with our relational database model. This phase is imperative as it helps to avoid variation within the data and inaccuracies in the BI reports.
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Dashboard and Report(s) Design:
The primary focus of the BI database should revolve around the needs of the end users. It is important to utilize user dashboards and reports that are easy to understand, ensuring that end users can effectively interact with the data. When choosing a BI tool, ensure that the tool can be integrated with the organization's infrastructure. You have options like Tableau, Excel, and Power BI, or you could even consider a customized solution. However, the chosen tool should align with the organization's objectives and enhance user proficiency.
The design of the dashboards and reports should be creative and focused on the user. The reports should also be easy to navigate and have interactive elements that would help the user gain a deeper understanding of the data. This is also important when you visualize the data, as you should select the proper charts, graphs, or maps that the users could engage with. These could include sales charts separated by customer and product, or a map detailing shipping routes and customer location. When determining accessibility, make sure the BI reports are accessible across all devices and platforms. This will enhance the usability of the solution.
IV. Ad Hoc Reporting Needs
User Training:
Successfully implementing a BI solution goes beyond the technical aspects of database design; it involves training end-users and ensuring they have the knowledge to utilize the power of the BI reports. Providing comprehensive training sessions is important to make sure that stakeholders across departments can effectively access and make use of the BI reports.
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Training should encompass not only the mechanics of accessing reports but also the interpretation of data and the utilization of built-in features for ad hoc reporting. User-friendly guides help to support the learning process and promote self-service among end-users.
Flexibility in Database Design:
In the dynamic landscape of e-commerce, business requirements are evolving. A key consideration in the BI database design is building flexibility for future reporting needs. The database structure should not be rigid; instead, it should adapt to changes in data sources, reporting requirements, and emerging trends within the industry.
Therefore, implementing a dynamic data model would help integrate new data sources, ensuring the BI solution remains relevant and effective for evolving business needs. The ability to easily incorporate new dimensions, metrics, or data sets helps the organization in terms of agility and competitiveness.
Continuous Improvement:
The deployment of the BI solution for SharpenThePencil.com is not the cessation of the process, but rather the beginning of a continuous improvement cycle. Establishing a feedback loop with the stakeholders is essential for gaining insight into the effectiveness of the BI reports in addressing their needs. Periodic reviews and updates to the BI database design should be informed by any evolving business needs, technological advancements, and user feedback. This would ensure that the BI solution remains dynamic and valuable, thus contributing to informed decision-making and strategic growth for SharpenThePencil.com.
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In conclusion, the creation of a Business Intelligence (BI) database for SharpenThePencil.com is a multi-phased roadmap that demands attention to detail and a collaborative approach with not only the Chief Information Officer (CIO) but also key stakeholders. By navigating through the stages of clarifying the request, confirming deliverables, and designing a flexible and user-
centric BI database, SharpenThePencil.com can enhance the utilization of reports for data-driven decision-making, improving efficiency and overall customer satisfaction. References:
Dietz, Julie. “How to Implement a Customer Portal Platform.” Higher Logic
, 17 Nov. 2023, www.higherlogic.com/blog/how-to-implement-a-customer-portal-platform/
. Chiradeep, BasuMallick. “Here’s Why Data Integration Is Important to Organizations.” Spiceworks
, 1 Dec. 2022, https://www.spiceworks.com/tech/devops/articles/data-integration/
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“What Is Database Architecture?”
MongoDB
, www.mongodb.com/basics/database-architecture
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