| Nuance is a challenge for journalists. It's tough to offer | | | | For a BI project a lifetime of two-and-a-half years |
| a nuanced view of dense topics - and technology | | | | seems extraordinarily short, given the time and effort |
| topics are among the worst - without boring the | | | | that needs to be devoted to delivering good BI. |
| reader to tears. In a recent story, I tried to bring out the | | | | Pendse's survey may not differentiate between small, |
| (nuanced!) concept of companies starting small with | | | | tactical BI initiatives, failed larger ones and successful |
| business intelligence initiatives before applying BI more | | | | enterprise BI implementations, in which case the |
| broadly across their business. Several of my sources, | | | | numbers may work out right, writes Thomas. Tactical |
| however, felt I was pitting one approach against the | | | | projects are intended to have a short life and bad |
| other. | | | | projects tend to get killed quickly, so those categories |
| Analyst Nigel Pendse, author of the annual BI Survey, | | | | could exert downward pressure on the median. |
| feels it appears in the story as if he and Information | | | | He doesn't advocate "big" BI over "small" BI. Rather, |
| Builders Chief Marketing Officer Michael Corcoran | | | | "for me what counts is what works." He writes: |
| were "in violent disagreement" over whether BI should | | | | Tactical BI initiatives can be very beneficial in their own |
| be widely deployed throughout an organization or just | | | | right, as well as being indispensible to the successful |
| to key users. As Pendse points out in an e-mail, he and | | | | conduct of larger BI projects. However, it is my firm |
| Corcoran "agree on most things." While Information | | | | belief that tactical BI works best when it is part of a |
| Builders applications are sometimes widely deployed | | | | strategic framework. |
| throughout organizations, writes Pendse, end users | | | | Again, I'm not trying to create controversy where there |
| don't necessarily see them as BI and generally aren't | | | | isn't any. Thomas obviously feels tactical BI projects |
| directly involved in implementing the apps. The two | | | | have merit. I suspect Pendse will concede that |
| examples of Information Builders clients I cite in the | | | | enterprisewide BI projects can create tremendous |
| story illustrate this well, I think. | | | | value, even though they'll inevitably be more challenging |
| Information Builders' approach differs from other | | | | and cost more to boot. |
| vendors that focus on workers who use BI | | | | One area on which I know the men (and my other |
| applications in a more ad hoc manner and are "well | | | | sources) agree is the importance of involving users in |
| aware that they're using a BI tool." As Pendse told me | | | | BI initiatives. They all mentioned it, though those |
| in an earlier interview, many of those vendors are | | | | remarks failed to make the final cut in the interest of |
| simply trying to sell more BI licenses. | | | | keeping the article reasonably concise. I'm now feeling |
| Another of my sources, independent BI consultant | | | | some editorial remorse, since I think it's such an |
| Peter Thomas, takes issue with Pendse's suggestion | | | | important best practice, one that I've featured a |
| for undertaking small, tactical BI intiiatives rather than | | | | number of times, most recently in December. I like this |
| enterprisewide ones. Beginning with small projects is | | | | quote from John Colbert, vice president of research |
| the most logical approach, says Pendse, in light of the | | | | and analytics for BI advisory company BPM Partners: |
| fact that the median age of BI applications at | | | | Don't underestimate end users in the process, since |
| companies he surveys is less than two-and-a-half | | | | they will drive benefits. Users will keep doing |
| years. In a follow-up post on his BI blog, Thomas | | | | spreadsheets if they don't see enough benefit (from |
| zeroes in on that figure, thinking it seems inadequate | | | | BI). They should be pulling the project of your hands, |
| for a BI project. He writes: | | | | versus you throwing it over the wall to them. |