Everyone seems to be selling Business Intelligence (BI) products and services these days – from generalist software vendors to IT consulting firms. Business and IT decision makers need to maintain a clear distinction between true BI and gratuitous data. This research note provides that delineation by addressing the following key areas:
- A working definition of BI – what it is and what it is not.
- A framework for looking at BI technologies in terms of complexity and resource demands.
- A summary of common BI tool types, with examples of each.
- Key considerations prior to adoption.
- Recommendations for high-level BI planning.
IT and business leaders can leverage this information to develop a solid grasp of BI and ensure the initiative does not stray too far from the core principles.
