A collaborative approach to Business Intelligence. Tony Blanch Data Warehouse Manager Planning Quality and Reporting

A collaborative approach to Business Intelligence Tony Blanch Data Warehouse Manager Planning Quality and Reporting

One year ago AAIR SIG Melbourne 2012 provided great value with points made by ANU and Altis seen as significant for UoN s BI progress Many of those lessons have since been implemented Today I would like to give back 2

Business Intelligence Collaboration Today s highlights Strategic alignment BI maturity assessment BI journey and growth Team collaboration BICC Software and architecture Trained users become advocates Adoption of knowledge and growing faith Persistence and lessons 3

Strategic Alignment

NeW Directions 2013-2015 FUTURE WORKFORCE PLAN Strategic Objective 2: UoN has the leadership capacity and capability to deliver the 2025 Vision, performance targets and lead strategies. Strategy 2.5: Provide University leaders with access to robust, real time and relevant performance data to support evidence-based decisionmaking, and review the outcomes of institutional strategic and operational plans. 5

Business Intelligence Maturity Where are we Where should this go What areas need attention Leverage existing strengths Seek external perspectives Vision Road map Priorities Support Get started

Business Intelligence journey Manual Spreadsheet Reporting 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 7

Business Intelligence journey Manual Spreadsheet Reporting Data Warehouse 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 8

The data warehouse 9

The data warehouse 10

The data warehouse 11

The data warehouse Great potential Needs maintenance Guide it s growth Manage with care 12

Business Intelligence journey Manual Spreadsheet Reporting Structured Data Ad-hoc Reporting Data Warehouse 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 13

Business Intelligence journey Manual Spreadsheet Reporting Data Warehouse Structured Data Ad-hoc Reporting Strategic Planning NeW Directions begins 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 14

Automated reporting self service 16

Automated reporting self service Setup cost Timely reliable information to users Single source Unburdens BICC resources Resources start more advanced analytics Increase BI value and maturity 17

MIS Portal User Access and flexibility User adoption of knowledge Self serve web portal Daily report updates Users become advocates Growing faith in data BI grows throughout the organisation 20

BI maturity assessment A recent organisation-wide BI maturity assessment measured 9 key areas judged as critical for success The maturity assessment was published with recommendations accepted This garners further support for BI areas receiving lower assessment scores This was done in the context of successful developments in the previous two years 23

Business Intelligence journey Manual Spreadsheet Reporting Data Warehouse Structured Data Ad-hoc Reporting Strategic Planning NeW Directions begins Automated Reporting and Increased Data Usage Self Serve Web Portal Dashboard Reports User Adoption BI Maturity Assessment Self Serve Visual Analytics In-memory data handling. BI Maturity Program. BICD Well informed decisions. 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 24

Oracle sources data storage SAS Data Warehouse Software SAS analytics and reporting SAS Visual Analytics with in-memory 1000x processing speeds and advanced presentation capabilities and flexibility. We re expecting much from this. Excel so-far is inescapable 25

Business Intelligence journey Manual Spreadsheet Reporting Data Warehouse Structured Data Ad-hoc Reporting Strategic Planning NeW Directions begins Automated Reporting and Increased Data Usage Self Serve Web Portal Dashboard Reports User Adoption Increasing Analytics and Business Intelligence Capabilities BI Maturity Assessment Self Serve Visual Analytics In-memory data handling. BI Maturity Program. BICD Well informed decisions. 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 26

BI Competency Centre The BICC is hosted within the Planning Quality and Reporting unit This eclectic group provides a spectrum of knowledge and capabilities in data warehousing, reporting, statistics, system administration, quality control, training, ETL development, data modelling, data management and more 27

BI Competency Distribution Staff outside BICC are being trained in BI and Data Warehousing Power Users We combine subject matter expertise with BI expertise to maximise output and distribute the growth Members of Schools, Faculties, Student Services, Research, International, HR and Finance become fluent in decision support Organisation growth supported by business intelligence growth 28

Business Intelligence Maturity How do we get there? 29

Business Intelligence Growth Consider Perspectives People Knowledge Information Structure Process Efficiency Outcomes Intelligently

Consider PEOPLE Perspectives Organisational Support for Organisational change: Executive, Finance, Sponsors, and Champions Decision makers and operational reporters Data custodians and subject matter experts I.T. and software vendors Which developers or analysts will be available and when? What BI specialists are needed? BICC, analysts, administrators, modellers, developers, reporters and BICD Manage these valued resources and relationships with care 32

Consider PEOPLE Perspectives Users: Users training fuels system uptake Advanced users consume more Advanced users promote the system Manage these valued resources and relationships with care Visually impaired users need consideration during presentation design. Up to 10% males red-green colour blind. http://www.colour-blindness.com/general/prevalence/ 33

Consider KNOWLEDGE Perspectives Oganisational: Strategic priorities, KPIs Organisational structure Decision makers Data custodians Business procedures Reporting requirements 34

Consider KNOWLEDGE Perspectives Business Intelligence: Data warehousing and dimensional modelling Data management and quality ETL, output, interface and security development Advanced analytics 35

Consider INFORMATION Perspectives Integration and single source of truth One stop shop Quick delivery Information tailored to groups and individuals Automated delivery Updated current information 36

Consider STRUCTURE Perspectives Business Structure Projects, defined scope and deliverables Business process for decisions Actions, trends and KPIs are measured Data governance, data custodians and managers IT, networks, storage, servers, infrastructure, DBAs 37

Consider STRUCTURE System Structure Access to source system databases Software, Tools, Visuals, Interface Security Dimensions, Modeling, Marts, Huts System Architecture Foundation, do it once, do it right Perspectives 38

Consider PROCESS Perspectives Deliver that low hanging fruit Process agility Requirement delivery speed Automated delivery 39

Consider EFFICIENCY Perspectives Tailored outputs: fit for user purpose A good dimensional model hastens data-mart and report production Business Intelligence Competency Distribution combines the subject matter expertise with advanced analytics for output production Highly productive software Maximise the user base and user access points 40

Consider OUTCOMES Perspectives Support strategic processes and decision support Advanced visual analytics to leverage data assets. Use these vast data assets Reliable low maintenance architecture so valuable work is not distracted by technology 41

Consider WHERE TO START Senior sponsor Strategic Alignment Sell the benefits Hasten the first delivery (low hanging fruit) Engage the business stakeholders and units Minimise impact Analytics feed into strategy Invite source custodian, manager and analyst involvement 42

Consider COLLABORATION Project teams, Managers, Analysts Business Users, Subject Matter Experts Source system custodians and managers Engage the users IT, Networks, Infrastructure, Database Admin Vendors BICC, BICD 43

Have a plan sponsored Identify stakeholders Project approval, funding, initiation Project steering, meetings, analysts Include Business Units and Planners Include commercial and legal Source system custodians and managers Plan for Infrastructure and data sources Engage potential Vendors Pursue highest return on investment (ROI) 44

Include the users Educate staff about how BI and Analytics can help with Strategic Planning Procedures Planning Functions and Operations Information Needs Reporting Needs Operational procedures 45

Persist Be patient. Stay strong. Maintain focus. Don t tolerate rubbish. Confirm assumptions. Keep quality high. Charity goes a long way. Make it fun. Laugh when needed, and sell, sell, sell. Dig deep when you know an idea is right. Some ideas take time, though No army can withstand the strength of an idea whose time has come. Victor Hugo 46

Multiple streams concurrently No one action stream can make this work. Pursue all possible. Process Improvement Security and availability improvement Automation improvement Data quality improvement Presentation quality, clarity and meaning Rapid development, Low hanging fruit, SDLC and agility Source data availability, good data modelling BICC Knowledge improvement and investment in cooperative units Clarity and disambiguation, value, effectiveness, trust 47

Strategic alignment Lessons Listen to the users, then listen some more Fight inertia, build trust, educate, quick wins, 80/20 Blur the lines between operational reporting and strategic reporting as ROI dictates Know your security Pursue improvements continually Be opportunistic and strive for utopia 48

Business Intelligence journey 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 49

Business Intelligence journey 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 50

Questions? Tony Blanch tony.blanch@newcastle.edu.au Data Warehouse Manager Planning Quality and Reporting Vice-Chancellor s Division The University of Newcastle