Business Intelligence

by Elizabeth Vitt, Michael Lucke

• ISBN13: 9780735616271
• ISBN10: 0735616272
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-05-17
• Publisher: Microsoft Pr

Summary

This book illustrates how organizations can make better, faster decisions about their customers, partners, and operations by turning mountains of data into valuable business information that's at the fingertips of decision makers. It describes what's involved in using business intelligence to bring together information, people, and technology to create successful business strategies-and how to execute those strategies with confidence. Real-life case studies show how world leaders in finance, manufacturing, and retail have successfully implemented business intelligence solutions and detail the benefits they have reaped.

Table of Contents

About the Authors	vii
Foreword	ix
Introduction	xiii
Our Assumptions About You	xiii
Organization of the Book	xiv
Acknowledgments	xiv
Part I Business Intelligence Foundations	1	(64)
Prologue: The Mystery on Lovesick Lake	3	(10)
Understanding Business Intelligence	13	(16)
Describing Business Intelligence	13	(4)
Defining the BI Cycle	17	(6)
Enabling Business Intelligence	23	(4)
Summary	27	(2)
Bridging the Analysis Gap	29	(20)
Multidimensional Analysis	29	(2)
Operational Systems	31	(3)
Business Intelligence Systems	34	(13)
Summary	47	(2)
Defining BI Technologies	49	(16)
The High-Level View	49	(4)
Reporting and Analysis	53	(7)
The Data Warehouse	60	(3)
Summary	63	(2)
Part II Business Intelligence Case Studies	65	(46)
Improving Operational Efficiency-Audi AG	67	(8)
Company Background	67	(1)
Business Requirements	68	(2)
The Solution	70	(1)
Solution Benefits	71	(1)
Future Plans	72	(1)
Summary	73	(2)
Maximizing Profitability-The Frank Russell Company	75	(10)
Company Background	75	(1)
Business Requirements	76	(2)
The Picasso Solution	78	(3)
The Einstein Solution: Building on Success	81	(2)
Summary	83	(2)
Impacting the Bottom Line-CompUSA Inc.	85	(10)
Company Background	85	(1)
Business Requirements	86	(2)
The Solution	88	(2)
Solution Benefits	90	(2)
Project Challenges	92	(1)
Lessons Learned	93	(1)
Future Plans	93	(1)
Summary	94	(1)
Keeping Customers Loyal-Disco S.A.	95	(8)
Company Background	95	(1)
Business Requirements	96	(1)
The Solution	97	(3)
Solution Benefits	100	(1)
Project Challenges	101	(1)
Summary	102	(1)
Managing Seasonal Variability-Cascade Designs	103	(8)
Company Background	104	(1)
Business Requirements	105	(2)
The Solution	107	(1)
Solution Benefits	108	(1)
Lessons Learned	109	(1)
Future Plans	110	(1)
Summary	110	(1)
Part III A Business Intelligence Roadmap	111	(66)
Identifying BI Opportunities	113	(32)
Doing Your Homework	113	(9)
Sharing and Collecting Ideas	122	(6)
Evaluating Alternatives	128	(14)
Summary	142	(3)
Implementing a BI Solution	145	(32)
An Implementation Strategy	145	(6)
The Fundamental Decisions	151	(23)
Summary	174	(3)
Conclusion	175	(2)
Appendix A Microsoft Data Warehousing Framework	177	(8)
SQL Server	177	(4)
Data Analyzer	181	(1)
Microsoft Business Intelligence Accelerator	182	(2)
Data Warehousing Alliance	184	(1)
Glossary	185	(8)
Bibliography	193	(2)
Index	195