Business Intelligence and Decision Making

Introduction Business Intelligence (BI) is an umbrella term used for various mechanisms that provide solutions to various business problems (Whitehorn 1999, p. 11). According to Marr (2012, p. 1), the term Business Intelligence refer to tools that are utilized to support the decision making process in organizations.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Business Intelligence and Decision Making specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Typically, the use of BI tools simplifies the decision making process and greatly improves performance as the decision making process is speeded up and business concerns are addressed much faster. Although the term Business Intelligence is frequently used to denote application software used to analyze a business enterprise’s data, it is rather elaborate (Marr 2012, p. 1). This paper presents a discussion on two Business Intelligence tools. One is by International Business Machines (IBM) wh ile the other one is a product of SAS. As can be seen from figure 1, Business Intelligence includes a number of components. Figure 1: Components of Business Intelligence From the figure, it can be seen that a BI tool must be able to support data gathering, analysis, and storage. In addition, the BI tool must provide access to business data. With the help of Business Intelligence tools, business enterprises are able to solve a whole range of problems that afflict those who use data within an organization. IBM’s Business Intelligence Software One of the most powerful Business Intelligence tools offered by IBM is Visual Warehouse. Among other things, this BI tool makes it possible for users to create, manage, and automate a data ware house. A data ware house is an off line copy of an operational database, usually held on a totally separate machine.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF L earn More Off line in this case implies that people are no longer adding to, and altering the data. To a large extent, the tool simplifies the work of dealing with complex queries that require a large proportion of the records. It is also possible to customize data in order to meet specific needs. Another major advantage of Visual Warehouse has to do with the fact that it can enable a business enterprise to optimize the structure of its database to suit its customized business requirements. Despite the fact that the optimization exercise can take a variety of forms, it might as well involve reducing the detail in the stored data. For example, rather than storing all the details of every sale made over the last five years, a business enterprise may choose to store only the weekly totals for each product. Another key feature of the Visual Warehouse is that it does not restrict the user to a single source of data. It facilitates the use of data from disparate databases. Visual Wareho use provides the user with all the tools required to set up and maintain the data warehouse. Further more, it provides all sorts of additional features that make automating and controlling the data warehouse easier. Using SAS Strategically According to Aanderud and Hall (2012, p. 3), SAS Business Intelligence solution makes it possible for users manipulate and analyze data in a very simplified manner. Using the tools available through SAS, users can access any kind of information for almost any business needs without having to go through so much trouble. The power of SAS Business Intelligence is in reducing the data gatekeeper’s role in the business so that each person can freely interact with analytic results. Ordinarily, SAS Business Intelligence makes it possible for business enterprises to address issues at different levels of the organization. Essentially, there are three broad groups of SAS Business Intelligence clients. One group includes the tools required to create r eports. The second group allows users to view the reports, and the final group offers the ability to address data management and administration needs. Typically, organizations grant each user community access to one of these groups. SAS reporting tools include SAS Enterprise Guide, Add-in for Microsoft, Web Report Studio, and SAS Stored Processes. Viewing tools are SAS Business Intelligence Dash Board, and Information Delivery Portal. Finally, SAS administration tools include SAS Information Map Studio, OLAP Cube Studio, and SAS Management Console.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Business Intelligence and Decision Making specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Similarities and Differences between IBM and SAS Business Intelligence Solutions As can be deduced from the preceding discussion, both the IBM and SAS Business Intelligence solutions have a variety of benefits to offer to business enterprises. Both have the capab ility to simplify the complex process of data management and analysis. With the help of these Business Intelligence solutions, therefore, business enterprises have a great opportunity to improve efficiency and general business performance (Shmueli et al. 2011). However, each of these Business Intelligence solutions has a number of distinguishing characteristics. One of the joys of IBM’s Business Intelligence software is that it is very adaptable and highly scalable. One feature that helps to provide this adaptability is that the various components making up Visual Warehouse can be installed in a multitude of different places. One can, for example, Visual warehouse itself on one machine, the actual data contained in the data warehouse on another and he or she can sit at yet a third machine driving the whole system over a network. The level of adaptability associated with Visual Warehouse guarantees users with a very flexible solution. Even though SAS is structurally complex, b usiness users of SAS Business Intelligence, only require a basic understanding of the system’s architecture to operate. When compared to IBM’s Business Intelligence software, SAS appears to be more superior and offers a great number of features that make data management and manipulation quite simple. Conclusion Clearly, a number of benefits can be realized by incorporating Business Intelligence solutions within a business enterprise’s operations. Among other benefits, there is improved transaction efficiency, ability to integrate internal operations in order to have a seamless operation, back office process automation, transaction status visibility, and reduced information sharing costs. The primary motivation for the acquisition of a Business Intelligence solution is better control over more efficient day to day business operations (Williams Williams 2007). As has been discussed in this paper, Business Intelligence solutions provide a business enterprise with an opportunity to improve business operations and offer excellent services to clients (Rud 2009, p. 24). However, it is important to note that business value of any Business Intelligence solution lies in its use within management processes that affect operational processes that drive revenue or reduce costs.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is also worthwhile noting that the benefits that accrue from the use of Business Intelligence solutions are directly linked to the way such solution s are aligned with a business enterprise’s operations. Without properly aligning Business Intelligence solutions to business operations, the benefits of using BI solutions may be outweighed by the drawbacks. Reference List Aanderud, T Hall, A 2012, Building Business Intelligence Using SAS: Content Development Examples, SAS Institute, Cary, NC. Marr, B 2012, What is Business Intelligence (BI)?, https://www.bernardmarr.com/default.asp. Rud, OP 2009, Business Intelligence Success Factors: Tools for Aligning Your Business in the Global Economy, John Wiley Sons, Hoboken, New Jersey. Shmueli, G, Patel, NR, Bruce, PC 2011, Data Mining for Business Intelligence: Concepts, Techniques, and Applications in Microsoft Office Excel with XLMiner, John Wiley Sons, Hoboken, New Jersey. Whitehorn, M 1999, Business Intelligence: The IBM Solu tion, Springer, Bromyard, UK. Williams, S, Williams, N 2007, The Profit Impact of Business Intelligence, Morgan Kaufmann, Oxford, UK. This essay on Business Intelligence and Decision Making was written and submitted by user Cuthbert to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

How to Gain Inspiration from 6 Crazy Tactics That Got People Hired

How to Gain Inspiration from 6 Crazy Tactics That Got People Hired A strong resume and a quality educational background are key factors in getting hired. However, sometimes it takes a little more to nab a job. We don’t necessarily recommend that you try the following 6 crazy tactics that got people hired, but they did work for others, so who knows? Maybe they could work for you too. Proceed at your own risk†¦ 1. Use your artistry to impress.Grab attention however you can. The holiday season once inspired a woman to transform the exterior of her Georgia home into a festive resume. She used Christmas lights to spell out her desire for a job on the front of her house: â€Å"My wish, HR job, Liz Hickok, LinkedIn.† The stunt apparently scored her a lot of contacts on LinkedIn. That’s networking at its most sparkly!2. Turn your resume into an interactive experience!If you’re applying to a non-traditional company, why not wow them with a resume they’ll be talking about long after you’ve been hired? Graeme Anth ony was a PR and social media consultant who used his particular skills to put together a highly untraditional resume. Instead of listing his work experience and accomplishments on paper he went the digital route, creating an interactive video resume to get a job. His video stimulated so many job offers that he decided to become a freelancer to work for as many of the interested companies as he could.3. Be persistent.Frankly, stalking a company is a big no-no when trying to get a job. However, this crazy tactic worked for Flavie Bagnol, who was so intent on getting a job at CBS that she called the person in charge of hiring every day until she pinned down a meeting. The best takeaway here is to set your sights on a field, company, or title, and put all of your energy into reaching out to vital people with connections until you make the one that sticks.4. Put your information where important people are sure to see it.Would you ever think that Google-stalking could lead to a job? Admi t it. You’ve looked up your own name on Google to see what was out there. Everybody does it, including the people who might hire you. Alec Brownstein took advantage of that fact by creating Google ads for a number of creative directors in the advertising field he hoped to break into. Whenever these directors Google-stalked themselves, the results included Google ads with a personalized message from Brownstein asking for a job interview. The stunt got the enterprising fellow a job at Young and Rubicam.5. Don’t be afraid to show a bit of personality.Richard Waddington was dashing out of his home to a job interview when his 4-year old daughter offered him a good luck charm: a little toy cow. Waddington was so charmed by the gesture that he stuck the cow in his pocket before leaving. During his interview, the HR person warned him that the office environment was a â€Å"little crazy† and asked him if he thought he would â€Å"fit in† in such a place. His respo nse: â€Å"I have a cow in my pocket.† He then produced the little, plastic bovine from his pocket, a move that so delighted the HR exec that Waddington got the job.6. When all else fails, candy might work.Paper is such a boring vehicle for your resume. It doesn’t even taste good! Chocolate, however, is scrumptious. A marketing professional named Nicholas used that universal truth to his advantage when he printed his resume on a wrapper wrapped around a bar of chocolate. The stunt got him the job of his sweet dreams. Whether or not his employer ate the chocolate remains a mystery.