Review of Business Intelligence Competency Centers: A Team Approach to Maximizing Competitive Advantage (Wiley and SAS Business Series) (Hardcover)

When I think of "business intelligence", I tend to envision the gathering of competitive information.But it's really much, much more than that.The book Business Intelligence Competency Centers: A Team Approach to Maximizing Competitive Advantage by Gloria J. Miller, Dagmar Brautigam, and Stefanie V. Gerlach explores the subject and goes into what it takes to build a Business Intelligence Competency Center (BICC) at work...

Contents: Introduction; Business Intelligence in the Organization; Primary Functions of the Business Intelligence Competency Center; Planning a Business Intelligence Competency Center - Using the Information Evolution Model; Human Capital; Knowledge Processes; Culture; Infrastructure; Setting Up and Ensuring Ongoing Support; Cases from the Field; Ten Recommendations for a Highly Effective Business Intelligence Competency Center; List of Abbreviations; Additional Roles; Index

This book is authored by SAS employees, and the organization figures prominently in many of the examples and case studies.Even so, the content doesn't turn into a 200 page advertisement for the company.The significant issue for building a BICC (for me) was the emphasis on coordinating the use of data within the organization.Business intelligence encompasses the use of *all* the information in your company.The data marts that often end up as an IT resource should be the foundation of a BICC area.The goal is to have a single authoritative source for data and answers, and to eliminate the "one-off" areas of siloed information.The book goes into plenty of detail on how to design a BICC, what it takes to run one, and what type of changes a company will need to make to allow it to all work together.There's also a good series of questions at the end by which you can judge your potential options and plans.

This isn't necessarily a "fun" or easy read.It will appeal most to those who are already inclined to want to move down this path.It could well serve as your guidebook to manage the creation of your own BICC.And don't feel that you'll be steered down a specific software path (like SAS).For a book that's sponsored by a software vendor, it's more software-neutral than I expected...


Product Description
Transform data into action for competitive advantage

"The knowledge assets of an organization are becoming increasingly important for competitive advantage, and therefore, the way in which knowledge is created, renewed, and communicated is critical. This book provides practical insights into how this may be achieved through the establishment of a Business Intelligence Competency Centre and is a valuable read for 'information professionals.'"
--Bill Sturman, Information Architecture Project Manager The Open University, United Kingdom

"BI is more than technology and projects. BI must live in the organization--as a BICC. This book helps to make BI tangible and understandable, bringing it to life."
--Miriam Eisenmann, Project Manager (PMP) CSC Ploenzke AG, Germany

"This book is a must-read for planning and implementing your BICC. It is a pragmatic guide that addresses a lot, if not all, of the questions you'll be asking yourself. Don't miss out on getting a head start from the people who thought this through from start to finish . . . Pray your competitors don't get hold of this book!"
--Claudia Imhoff, President Intelligent Solutions, Inc., USA

"Creating a BICC forces the organization to focus on the importance of centralizing the gathering, interpreting, and analyzing of information to create business insight."
--Anne Ulyate, Group Manager Business Intelligence Mutual & Federal, South Africa

"BI is a highly visible element in the 'business value' trend for IT investments. Initiatives, such as competency centers, should empower user organizations to drive even more value out of their BI investments."
--Marianne Kolding, Director, European ServicesIDC, United Kingdom

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