Business intelligence best practices
Top Stories
-
Feature
11 Feb 2022
Good data-driven decision-making avoids common pitfalls
Avoiding cognitive biases that can lead to the use of incomplete or inaccurate data is crucial to the successful use of analytics. Continue Reading
-
Feature
25 Jan 2022
Data access key to Regeneron's innovation efforts
After developing a COVID-19 treatment in mere months, Regeneron adopted a data catalog and is developing a data governance framework to speed up its drug development pipeline. Continue Reading
-
News
10 Sep 2014
Accenture: 48% of UK survey respondents fail to find big data talent
An Accenture survey has found that nearly half of UK respondents are struggling to find enough skilled data management professional Continue Reading
-
Answer
30 Jun 2014
Design a business intelligence system properly -- for business users
Rick Sherman explains how to avoid common mistakes when planning and designing BI systems, saying that the varying needs of different business users must be front and center. Continue Reading
-
Feature
19 Dec 2013
Defining and using KPIs in a successful business intelligence system
In this book excerpt, author David Loshin discusses how to select key performance indicators and turn data into actionable knowledge for BI success. Continue Reading
-
News
17 Dec 2013
NHS clinical research body uses QlikView to forward open data
The clinical research delivery arm of the NHS is developing an open data platform using QlikView Continue Reading
-
Guide
22 Nov 2013
Change agents: Leaders in information management technology
In this guide, we examine various transformative projects and the agents of change who made them possible through creativity and determination. Continue Reading
-
News
24 Sep 2013
C-level executives cry out for data scientists
Board level executives are putting pressure on their IT organisations to find data scientists, according to Teradata research Continue Reading
-
News
23 Sep 2013
Self-service BI: A maturity test for BI programs
TechTarget's Wayne Eckerson shares the key points from a webcast panel discussion he led on self-service business intelligence. His conclusion: It's not as easy as you might think. Continue Reading
-
News
09 Sep 2013
A critical BI challenge: Reconciling opposites
Business intelligence managers are often faced with seemingly contradictory demands, writes TechTarget's Wayne Eckerson -- and that calls for an open mind, not a rigid approach. Continue Reading
-
Tip
27 Aug 2013
Coca-Cola overcomes challenges to seize BI opportunities
The Coca-Cola Co. understands that analytics challenges can be overcome and that a team approach helps businesses take advantage of BI opportunities. Continue Reading
-
Feature
25 Jun 2013
BI program rescue strategy: Breaking the rules
If business users are losing faith in a business intelligence team, it might be time to throw out the BI rule book and do what needs to be done, writes TechTarget's Wayne Eckerson. Continue Reading
-
Feature
31 May 2013
Six steps to creating a BI competency center
TechTarget's Wayne Eckerson lays out a roadmap for setting up a successful business intelligence competency center, and breaking down BI silos, in a decentralized company. Continue Reading
-
News
29 Apr 2013
Case study: Telefonica Ireland uses business intelligence to reduce churn
O2 Ireland, part of Telefonica, has been using Teradata’s data warehousing and Cognos BI to stop customers leaving and entice them with location-based offers Continue Reading
-
Tip
22 Apr 2013
Change management tips for BI program managers
TechTarget's Wayne Eckerson writes that business intelligence managers can learn some valuable lessons from the book "Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard." Continue Reading
-
News
28 Mar 2013
Business intelligence program needs long-term tending to fully blossom
The evolution of Quicken Loans' business intelligence strategy from static reporting to self-service BI holds useful lessons for other organizations. Continue Reading
-
News
01 Feb 2013
Don’t make big data stand alone, warns Gartner
Gartner cautions organisations against treating big data as unique and criticises business intelligence suppliers for failing to exploit mobility Continue Reading
-
News
09 Jan 2013
King.com gaming site unlocks big data with Hadoop
Online gaming company King.com replaced its MySQL database with Cloudera’s Hadoop distribution to cope with big data Continue Reading
-
Feature
15 Nov 2012
Tripartite structure best on BI 'center of excellence'
There are no rules on how to set up a business intelligence center of excellence, says TechTarget's Wayne Eckerson. But most of the ones he sees include executive, business and technical teams. Continue Reading
-
Quiz
14 Nov 2012
Quiz: Test your knowledge of mobile business intelligence trends
How much do you know about mobile business intelligence tools and best practices for managing mobile BI initiatives? Take our brief quiz to find out. Continue Reading
-
Feature
05 Oct 2012
How to manage unstructured data for business benefit
The cloud offers some progress in the resource-sapping management of unstructured data, but it is critical to work back from the business case. Continue Reading
-
Report
19 Sep 2012
Self-service BI: Not as easy as it looks
In a research report, TechTarget's Wayne Eckerson offers tips and strategies for successfully deploying self-service business intelligence tools to foster bona fide business-driven BI processes. Continue Reading
-
Feature
23 Aug 2012
What 'big data' means for health care BI managers
Consultant Laura Madsen says that "big data" is here to stay and that health care organizations -- which often lag behind other businesses on BI maturity -- should start getting ready for it. Continue Reading
-
News
25 May 2012
Organisational design for analytics function needs governance
Scant are the absolute rules for the organizational design of the analytics function. It can be outsourced or in-house; sit within a business unit or run from the centre. But it needs governance. Continue Reading
-
News
21 May 2012
Triumvirate of tools key to effective BI processes
TechTarget's Wayne Eckerson says business intelligence systems should include reporting, dashboard and visual discovery software -- be it from one vendor or multiple suppliers. Continue Reading
-
Feature
23 Apr 2012
Making money from data: Financial business intelligence at work
Finance professionals are heavy users of BI and predictive analytics software. Find out how a variety of European finance functionaries are analysing trends, cutting costs and finding new business. Continue Reading
-
News
11 Apr 2012
Business analytics skills shortage provokes companies to cast net wide
Organisations face lack of business analytics skills. Smart companies cast the net wide for the broadest pools of talent, help analysts learn from each other and work to ensure they realize potential. Continue Reading
-
News
03 Apr 2012
Collaborative BI: Optimizing decision-making processes
In a new research report, TechTarget's Wayne Eckerson assesses the role of collaboration in business intelligence and analyzes survey results on the adoption of collaborative tools for BI uses. Continue Reading
-
News
20 Mar 2012
The two sides of Facebook business applications
Facebook has unlimited potential for advertising and targeted marketing, says TechTarget's Wayne Eckerson. But, he adds, it must protect personal data from over-exuberant marketers. Continue Reading
-
Feature
01 Mar 2012
Five first steps to creating an effective 'big data' analytics program
Choosing the right technology is only half the startup battle on "big data" analytics. Get a list of deployment tips from consultant Lyndsay Wise to help set your organization on the right path. Continue Reading
-
News
27 Jan 2012
BI pros: From data experts to decision experts
TechTarget's Wayne Eckerson says there's more to being a BI professional than providing data to business users: You should shepherd them through the entire analysis and decision-making process. Continue Reading
-
News
09 Jan 2012
'Big data' to inspire streamlined analytics programs in '12, IIA predicts
Faculty members from the International Institute for Analytics, a research firm that focuses on how organizations use analytics, weigh in on their predictions for 2012. Continue Reading
-
News
06 Jan 2012
The components of good decision making -- and effective BI
Citing a book on decision making by three Bain & Co. consultants, TechTarget's Wayne Eckerson says BI teams shouldn't lose sight of the ultimate goal: helping business users make better decisions. Continue Reading
-
News
04 Jan 2012
Biggest business intelligence software stories of 2011
From the explosion of "big data" analytics to data quality issues plaguing business intelligence (BI) programs to data mining privacy concerns, there was no shortage of must-read BI stories in 2011. Continue Reading
-
Answer
31 Jan 2011
How to leverage agile BI to help your BI architecture
Learn how to leverage agile BI to help with your business intelligence architecture. Find out why you should split your BI architecture into two categories -- data integration and BI applications. Continue Reading
-
Answer
11 Nov 2010
Is your company primed for social media analytics?
Are some companies primed to get more use out of social media analytics than others are? Find out, plus learn how a social media analytics strategy compares to BI strategies. Continue Reading
-
Tutorial
07 Oct 2010
Examples of decision support systems (DSS) aiding business decision-making
Learn how decision support systems can help the business decision-making process. Find out why decision support is needed and what IT skills business managers need for DSS. Continue Reading
-
Answer
07 Sep 2010
Seven aspects of a successful business intelligence (BI) architecture
Knowing what makes for a successful business intelligence (BI) architecture can help you plan and expand your current BI system. Learn what your BI architecture should include. Continue Reading
-
News
22 Jun 2010
Gartner: The six elements of cloud analytics and SaaS BI
The term ‘cloud analytics’ means different things to different people. To gain any advantage from it, organizations must first agree on a definition, according to Gartner. Continue Reading
-
News
09 Apr 2010
TDWI: Reach business goals with a unified data management strategy
Organizations should implement a unified data management approach to better support business goals, according to TDWI's Philip Russom. Continue Reading
-
Feature
07 Oct 2009
The importance and benefits of operational decision making
In this section of 'Smart (Enough) System', you'll learn the importance of operational decisions and different strategies that influence decision making. You'll also read about key BI terms including business agility, strategic alignment and decision support. Continue Reading
-
News
02 Mar 2007
Business intelligence ROI: Five keys to justifying BI investments
Analysts from Gartner and Bloor, and an experienced end user, recommend best practices for calculating the hard ROI metrics and soft benefits of BI investments. Continue Reading