Business Users

In this section:

The Business Intelligence (BI) Platform Capability Matrix (BI Capabilities Matrix) published by Gartner, Inc. can be used as the starting point for gathering business user requirements.

Gartner, Inc. categorizes the twelve (12) capabilities of a BI platform into the following three areas:

According to Gartner, Inc. (in their Publication Date: 23 April 2007, ID Number: G00146865), only the combination of all three capability categories (Information Delivery, Integration, and Analysis) can create a platform that delivers BI pervasively to the business.

For more information on the Business Intelligence Platform Capability Matrix by Gartner, Inc., see http://www.informationbuilders.com/products/webfocus/pdf/Gartner_BI_Matrix.pdf.

Using the Gartner, Inc. BI Capabilities Matrix has two advantages. Requirements are aligned with industry standards, and the matrix adds structure to the user requirements by grouping the capabilities. In a case where several applications are under review, business user requirements must be obtained for each application in order to determine if the applications can co-exist or must be implemented separately.


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Defining the Users and Their Business Needs

As shown in the following Population pyramid, studies show that a large percentage of users in a typical organization are non-technical or consist of other types of users, who need information using self-service applications, instead of tools. Only a small percentage of users are business analysts or data discovery analysts, who create new information and perform analytical functions using development tools.


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Segmenting Users

In this section:

We need to understand:



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User Roles

The role of a business user or analyst in an organization dictates how information is disseminated and what tools are required on a user-role basis. Organizations are typically composed of the following users:



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User Skill Sets

User skill level and sophistication determines whether the user should access information through reports or if the user should be granted access to ad hoc development tools. Users can be classified as having skill sets that are:



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User Questions

User access to appropriate WebFOCUS features can be determined from the questions they may ask, as described below.



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User Time

The amount of time a user spends on an application determines how information should be disseminated to them. For example, if a user has limited time to spend using an online application, the status of key metrics should be mailed to them on a regular basis.

In general:



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Data Timeliness/Latency

Understanding data latency helps to determine how to design an application for providing status of key metrics. If data updates are to be viewed:



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User Connection Status

Users who use their desktops for online access have more flexibility in accessing applications. They rely less heavily on information being distributed by email. Partial or fully mobile users may find email and mobile applications the best way to stay connected. Users may be:


Information Builders