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user requirements for BI technology. The framework covers, not only the
obvious BI functions, but also the follow-up actions a user may need to perform,
with the information gathered using the BI technology. In some cases, normal
Office automation tools, may be the answer, but applets or macros may be
required to help with integration.
The checklist is divided into various major sections with individual points. Points
are accompanied by descriptions to help clarify the question being asked.
Once your users have completed the checklist, you will have an overall
understanding of what they perceive their needs to be, to support their business
activities. Follow the data gathering with an analysis of the responses, grouping
the answers into:
Nice to Have
rating totals 1 to 4
Good to Have
rating totals 5 to 7
Must Have
rating totals 8 to 10
Not Required
rating total of 0
It should be noted that no single product, can fulfill all the items on the checklist.
BI solutions are a collection of tools that are used to satisfy the business
requirements.
Users from different areas will have different requirements. Marketing people will
have a need for segmentation, while financial users will have a need for specific
financial calculations. Your data gathering should account for the diversity of
requirements by business function, and job function.
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Department:
______________________________
Position:
______________________________
Telephone:
______________________________
Email:
______________________________
Requirement
Description
Rating
1 to 10
Data Inquiry
Simple Ad Hoc real time inquiry The ability to enter and execute a query retrieving information, containing information having, simple sums, counts and averages, grouped by specified values.
Computed Columns The ability to have columns of
information that are calculated and not stored.
Prompted Ad Hoc inquiries The ability to execute predefined
inquiries, which prompt you for constraints, but always retrieve the same columns of information
Scheduled data extracts The ability to have queries executed at
predetermined times, or related to business events.
External Sources of Information The ability to integrate information from outside the Data Warehouse.
Examples:
Spreadsheets
Files from outside sources, vendors, suppliers, catalogs
Files external to the Data Warehouse such as VSAM files, IMS databases, flat files, other databases.
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Requirement
Description
Rating
1 to 10
Data Inquiry
Import information for personal use The ability import inquiries into P/C based packages for further analysis. Examples:
Import into a spreadsheet
Import into a personal database Retrieve small amounts of information A few hundred rows of information,
which may fit comfortably into a spreadsheet
Retrieve large amounts of information A few thousand, or more rows of information, not likely to fit comfortably into a spreadsheet.
May be stored in a personal database for further analysis.
Use Summary Information Information that is aggregated to
pre-determined levels. Example:
Product sales by region and time
Use Detail Information Information captured at the detail level,
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1 to 10
Data Manipulation
Workgroup Databases The ability to extract information for
local storage and further analysis
Custom Forms Presentation The ability to view and update
information using a custom form
Spreadsheet View The ability to view information in a row
and column format
Interactive Updates The ability to change information in
real time
Batch Updates The ability to store changes for
processing later
Data Warehouse Write Back The ability to have changes made put
back into the Data Warehouse.
Requirement
Description
Rating
1 to 10
Data Analysis
Forecasting Budgeting
Time Series Analysis The ability to perform a time based
analysis
Business Modeling/What If scenarios The ability to create models to reflect possible outcomes.
Goal Seeking The ability to define a desired goal,
and have various factors evaluated to achieve that goal.
Regression Analysis The ability to analyze how different
variables affect an outcome, and use that data to predict outcomes for other data series.
Statistical Functions Use simple and advanced statistical
functions, like skew and variance.
Financial Functions Use financial functions like IRR and
NPV
Segmentation The ability to define groups based on a
criteria, and then re-use that group for further analysis.
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Requirement
Description
Rating
1 to 10
Reporting
Report Types
Columnar Information listed in columns by
column heading
Cross Tab or Pivoted Information listed in Columns, but data
values can form column headings
Banded Information listed in horizontal bands,
with each band having it’s own content and possibly spanning multiple lines.
Aggregation Having the ability to create totals, and
sum duplicate rows of information
Computed Columns The ability to have columns of
information that are calculated from queried data.
Complex Calculations The ability to have complex
calculations Examples:
Percent of Total
Rolling Sums
Period Comparisons
Drill Up and Drill Down The ability to view information at a
specific level, and drill to other levels of information on a selected value. Example:
Drill Country ->Region ->District.
Mixed Text and Graphics The ability to produce reports that
contain both text and graphics
Cosmetic Control The ability to control fonts, bolding, or
display report data in specialized forms
Database Publishing The ability to create documents that
are driven by report data. Examples:
Product Catalogs
Exception Reporting The ability to produce reports that only
report on specific business problems. Examples:
Product Sales drop by 10%
Customers having Late Payments
Controlled Calculations The ability to control the calculations
used, so that everyone uses the same formulas.
Report Templates The ability to create report layouts that
server as starting points for creating custom reports
Prompted Reports The ability to create reports that
prompt you for content and constraints.
Reporting Preferences The ability to set preferences for
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Requirement
Description
Rating
1 to 10
Graphics
Chart Types Pie Bar
Stacked Bar Line
High/Low Radar Area Histograms Other
Combination The ability to mix chart types on a
single chart. Example:
A Bar chart having a Line Chart superimposed on it.
2D 2 Dimension Charts for Data Analysis
3D 3 Dimension Charts for presentation
Multiple Scales The ability to have multiple scales
displayed for different data series.
Split Scales The ability to have scales change their
range to reflect vastly different data series
Median Line The ability to place a line showing the
median for comparison purposes
Custom text Placement The ability to randomly place text for
annotation purposes
Slide Shows The ability to create slide shows for
presentation purposes
Custom Drawing The ability to perform drawing
functions to adjust the look of a graphic, or create new objects
Maps The ability to create geographical
diagrams Clip Art
Chart Templates The ability to create templates for
common chart generation
Automatic Update The ability for charts to automatically
reflect new information when the data changes.
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Requirement
Description
Rating
1 to 10
Data Security
Database level The ability to protect access to the
database in general
Table level The ability to protect which tables of
information can be accessed
Field Level The ability to protect which fields on a
table can be viewed Example:
HR can see employee personal
information, but others cannot.
Field Content The ability to protect data according to
the content of the data. Example:
Managers can only see information for their departments data
Requirement
Description
Rating
1 to 10
Documents
Small Text Only
Small Text and Graphics Large Text Only
Large Text and Graphics Group editing of documents
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1 to 10
Automation
Task automation The ability to automate frequently used
tasks. Usually in the form of macros and small applications that serve as assists
Complete/Advanced Automation The ability to fully automate a business
function requiring many steps
Scheduled Automation The ability to have common tasks
executed at predetermined times or according to Business Events
Requirement
Description
Rating
1 to 10
Portability and Accessibility
Remote access to tools The ability to use BI tools from remote
locations. Examples:
Mobile Devices
VPN over Internet
Stand Alone access to BI Tools The ability to use the tools when not connected to the network
Examples:
Laptops
Smart Phones
Tablets
Internal Collaboration The ability to share BI work with
persons inside the company. Examples:
Publish to a group in a Portal
External Collaboration The ability to send BI work to persons
outside the company.
External Access The ability to have external resources
use the BI applications. Examples:
Suppliers checking inventory levels
