Business Intelligence for the Enterprise

Customer Reviews:

Useful because it's non-technical.......2006-02-19

I think most IT people would agree that technology efforts, especially those in the area of BI, are first and foremost people efforts. This book focuses on the cultural and social aspects of BI, which are the bedrock for starting and finishing a perpetually useful initiative. This is highly recommended reading for anyone, regardless of experience, who wonders how so many BI projects can fail, and how to help make their own projects succeed.

Good for managers, too generic to be used by DW developers.......2005-03-26

The author is an IBM veteran who spent more than 20 years in the sales and product support divisions, except for a short period in a company specialized in Data Warehousing, so he naturally puts in this book a lot of his experiences and he also describes the history of BI in terms of architectures and technologies.

I had the impression that the target audience is mainly made by managers involved in BI projects, on either sides (vendors, consulting companies, customers).

One obvious comment from an Italian like me is that, like with many other books written in the US, the average size of the projects described in this book is rather large compared to what we are used to, and could only be applied to a handful of companies here in Italy.

The best feature of the book is the large number of real life examples that it contains. This can be a real help for a manager of a company who doesn't know the risks connected with BI projects and wants to learn from the many (and sometimes very costly) errors made by other people and companies in similar situations.

Under this aspect the book contains a lot of common sense and is a good reading, but don't look in it for innovative contents or for clear explanations of key technologies, buzzwords and project methodologies.

In most cases the book is limited to describe different situations (usually problematic), and to give some advise, without really delving into technical details.

Often I saw the author asking himself several questions about the typical problems that are encountered in a BI project, but then I couldn't find the answers.

Although there are no references to specific products, in more than one occasion it seems that the fact that the author comes from IBM comes to the surface, like when he prefers the "single provider" approach versus the "best of breed" (Chap. 4), or when he talks about the qualities of the mainframe as opposed to distributed environments (chap 7).

In conclusion, is this book worth reading? I have to say that whenever I read a book about BI and Data Warehousing I can't avoid comparing it with the books from Mr Kimball, which I consider the absolute reference in the field. This might not be fair, but it makes sense, since our time is limited, to read only those books that add something new to what we already know.

In this case the answer is yes, but only for a specific target, i.e. managers of companies who are about to start their first BI project. The rest of the project team would probably find most of the information in this book not very useful.

A thoughtful and thought-provoking book about BI ..........2003-07-10

The tji-Boston reviewer is dead-on correct that this is a frank discussion about BI. Biere will help you to think about BI, and he will help you to think clearly.

Business Intelligence for the Enterprise is written for the customer. The author is a sales guy, who works for a vendor (IBM - Good Grief!), AND he has written a book for the customer. Why?

He is obviously interested in seeing Enterprise BI succeed.

This book will help you think through sales hype, and move closer to success. In a certain sense, it is a book written to help business people like you deal with sales people like Mike Biere. Ironic? Yes. And no.

A perspective like this doesn't come from being slick and clever (goodness knows there is an endless array of slick and clever sales people.) Rather, it comes from making a mature commitment to one's working life, which Biere has obviously done.

It is as important for the C-level IT professionals to read as it is for their C-level bosses and colleagues. Needless(?) to say it is also an important read for those who are going to do the actual work of implementing the BI strategy.

Read this book, but only if you are willing to spend some time thinking....

For once -- a business book about technology and a MUST READ.......2003-06-27

......

If you:

- are tired of the increasingly unintelligible hype around corporate IT

- need to get your feet on the ground about how to apply IT for creating business value

- want to understand business intelligence for what it can really do for your organization (as opposed to what the product vendors tell you)

then read this book.

I've been in the software industry for twenty years, and this is one of those rare, honest books that speaks from long experience and with a welcome disregard for technical faddism and ivory tower theory.

This book is needed because the idea of "information at your fingertips" at most companies is still just that: only an idea. Instead, most organizations still operate inefficiently and clumsily from "islands" of information scattered about in everything from spreadsheets to CRM systems to mainframe COBOL programs whose authors have long since retired.

Even companies that have spents millions of dollars to correct this state of affairs have failed. Why?

This book is about making information available across the board, why you would want to, and how to give your technology of choice "traction" and an impact on the bottom line.

This is done from two perspectives: the technical and the human side.

The author is refreshingly frank in describing corporate IT disasters, and does an excellent job of exposing the human side of where they go wrong down in the trenches. Anyone who has been anywhere near an overbudget, underperforming, or ultimately worthless IT project (this should include most people in corporate IT by now) will read with a smile of recognition. Others should read before you spend: there is a lot of money and heartache to be saved. By demonstrating in everyday language that the hardest part to manage is human expectations, Biere performs a real service to the industry that is usually neglected, and gives managers, end users, and even vendors much insight on where to be proactive.

But this is not a collection of anecdotes. CIOs, CEOs, IT professionals, and beginners will gain a lot from the industry retrospectives, overviews of categories of tools, and the workbook approach for grasping the human side and the technical side at once. The author provides thinking and homework that MUST be done before even considering an expenditure, and asks the questions that even the most expensive consultants won't ask for you.

Because the author is with IBM, you might expect the book to promote IBM products. Not so. Mr. Biere manages to name almost no products, and yet covers the tools available comprehensively.

And college computer science professors: put this book in your curricula -- give your students a healthy dose of the "real world" before sending them out into it.

Book Description

You go online to buy a digital camera. Soon, you realize you've bought a more expensive camera than intended, along with extra batteries, charger, and graphics software-all at the prompting of the retailer.

Happy with your purchases? The retailer certainly is, and if you are too, you both can be said to be the beneficiaries of "customer intimacy" achieved through the transformation of data collected during this visit or stored from previous visits into real business intelligence that can be exercised in real time.

Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence for e-Commerce is a practical exploration of the technological innovations through which traditional data warehousing is brought to bear on this and other less modest e-commerce applications, such as those at work in B2B, G2C, B2G, and B2E models. The authors examine the core technologies and commercial products in use today, providing a nuts-and-bolts understanding of how you can deploy customer and product data in ways that meet the unique requirements of the online marketplace-particularly if you are part of a brick-and-mortar company with specific online aspirations. In so doing, they build a powerful case for investment in and aggressive development of these approaches, which are likely to separate winners from losers as e-commerce grows and matures.

* Includes the latest from successful data warehousing consultants whose work has encouraged the field's new focus on e-commerce.
* Presents information that is written for both consultants and practitioners in companies of all sizes.
* Emphasizes the special needs and opportunities of traditional brick-and-mortar businesses that are going online or participating in B2B supply chains or e-marketplaces.
* Explains how long-standing assumptions about data warehousing have to be rethought in light of emerging business models that depend on customer intimacy.
* Provides advice on maintaining data quality and integrity in environments marked by extensive customer self-input.
* Advocates careful planning that will help both old economy and new economy companies develop long-lived and successful e-commerce strategies.
* Focuses on data warehousing for emerging e-commerce areas such as e-government and B2E environments.

Customer Reviews:

DW & BI, el futuro del comercio electrónico........2001-11-08

Por fin se empieza a relacionar el comercio electrónico y las tecnologías de los sistemas de información basadas en el Data Warehouse (Business Intelligenece).
En este magnifico libro se muestran los conceptos básicos que confluyen en la actualidad en el mundo de los negocios electrónicos, siendo los pilares el comercio vía WEB y los entornos de BI.
Recomiendo el libro a todo aquel que desee preveer el futuro del E-commerce cuando la simbiosis con el DW sea completa.

Data Resource Quality: Turning Bad Habits into Good Practices (Addison-Wesley Information Technology Series)

Average customer rating:

Great book from the master of the field
Thanks Mike - Great book!

Data Resource Quality: Turning Bad Habits into Good Practices (Addison-Wesley Information Technology Series)
Michael H. Brackett
Manufacturer: Addison Wesley Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Data Warehousing | Databases | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Databases | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0201713063

Customer Reviews:

Great book from the master of the field.......2001-03-25

Anyone who has read Brackett previous books knows that his contribution to the data quality arena is fundamental.

This books is important because it states the business case for quality data in clear terms and also provides tools and guidelines to succeed in that long (very long ) journey

Thanks Mike - Great book!.......2000-12-21

Once again Michael Brackett does a great job. I've often thought that Michael is a perfectionist. However, I see more clearly now that he is a wounded soldier that has experienced the battles of data administration.

You will find this book exciting - I mean is you love the topic. Michael dictates the "right" way to set up data administration and the ramifications of not doing so.

The book is full of suggestions and pointed comments. I believe that Michael knows the subject as well as anyone, and has a vengence to correct the chaos that is currently prevalent in this area.

Book Description

As huge volumes of data, 24/7 performance requirements, and the need to integrate customer information are outstripping the capacity of many existing data warehouses, the question of how to support this explosive growth of e-business is becoming the hottest topic in data warehousing. Building upon Bill Inmon's proven corporate information factory (CIF) architecture, this team of experts show data warehouse managers and developers how to architect the data warehouse environment to meet the high-performance requirements of data-intensive Web sites as well as the needs of users across the enterprise. Readers will get detailed guidance on how to build the data warehouse or improve existing capabilities in order to:
o Capture clickstream data that customers enter at the Webhouse
o Interface with HTML, XML, and other Web applications
o Integrate clickstream data with legacy database systems
o Design the data warehouse for optimum performance and scalability
o Store and archive high volumes of data at reasonable costs
o Analyze e-business data to spot new marketing and sales opportunities

Average customer rating:

not for soemone having database background

Tera-Tom on Teradata E-Business
Tom Coffing
Manufacturer: Coffing Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Data Warehousing | Databases | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0970498020

Book Description

Tera-Tom on Teradata E-Business gives readers a fascinating explanation of the Internet and e-business marketplace and provides a step-by-step guide on how to build a Teradata data warehouse to take advantage of valuable E-Business data. This simple to understand and easy to read guide makes learning about E-Business and data warehousing fun, motivating, and exciting.

Customer Reviews:

not for soemone having database background.......2003-11-08

I did not get much out of it. I wish I did not waste the money on it. It was 125 pages of very basic information with some big font that I can get off the web. I read it in 2 hours. A very unhappy customer.

Average customer rating:

Great blend of overview and detail...

Data Warehousing and E-Commerce
William J. Lewis
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall PTR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Data Warehousing | Databases | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Databases | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

E-Commerce | Business & Culture | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0130911542

Customer Reviews:

Great blend of overview and detail..........2001-08-30

Mr. Lewis has brought together old and new concepts in a way that is beneficial to the entire spectrum of IT professionals. Data Warehouse architects, modelers, and managers will appreciate the overview and detail of E-Commerce projects, especially with regard to how data is used and accessed with new technology. E-Commerce specialists will gain value from the areas related to database storage and metadata processes.
Most importantly, both business and IT managers will gain both an overall and detailed understanding of how Data Warehouse and E-Commerce projects work in concert. This book complements well my library of books by Imhoff, Inmon, and others.

E-Commerce Warehouse Brings Jobs to Maumelle.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included): An article from: Arkansas Business

Average customer rating:

E-Commerce Warehouse Brings Jobs to Maumelle.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included): An article from: Arkansas Business
Jon Parham
Manufacturer: Journal Publishing, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Data Warehousing | Databases | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Arkansas Business, published by Journal Publishing, Inc. on June 5, 2000. The length of the article is 352 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: E-Commerce Warehouse Brings Jobs to Maumelle.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Author: Jon Parham
Publication: Arkansas Business (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 5, 2000
Publisher: Journal Publishing, Inc.
Volume: 17 Issue: 23 Page: 10

Article Type: Brief Article, Statistical Data Included

Distributed by Thomson Gale

The Home-School Connection: Making the Right Choice for Students, Parents and Schools.(Industry Trend or Event): An article from: T H E Journal (Technological Horizons In Education)

Average customer rating:

The Home-School Connection: Making the Right Choice for Students, Parents and Schools.(Industry Trend or Event): An article from: T H E Journal (Technological Horizons In Education)
Chip Goodman
Manufacturer: T.H.E. Journal, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Data Warehousing | Databases | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from T H E Journal (Technological Horizons In Education), published by T.H.E. Journal, LLC on September 1, 2000. The length of the article is 1232 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the supplier: The adoption of technology in school systems has left some issues of privacy for home-school portals. Information warehouses are being built by companies who are eager to begin capitalizing financially, but the privacy of student information must be responsibly handled. There are guidelines and precautionary measures to consider when choosing a partnership in the development of a school portal. Some suggestions include getting contracts in writing, and selecting a company who's services support the school goals and aid parents and staff.

Citation Details
Title: The Home-School Connection: Making the Right Choice for Students, Parents and Schools.(Industry Trend or Event)
Author: Chip Goodman
Publication: T H E Journal (Technological Horizons In Education) (Refereed)
Date: September 1, 2000
Publisher: T.H.E. Journal, LLC
Volume: 28 Issue: 2 Page: 52

Distributed by Thomson Gale

ORACLE, UNISYS, HYPERION, IBM, NCR, LEAD EFFORT TO STANDARDIZE ENTERPRISE INFORMATION SHARING.(common warehouse metadata interchange)(Brief Article): An article from: Software Industry Report

Average customer rating:

ORACLE, UNISYS, HYPERION, IBM, NCR, LEAD EFFORT TO STANDARDIZE ENTERPRISE INFORMATION SHARING.(common warehouse metadata interchange)(Brief Article): An article from: Software Industry Report

Manufacturer: Millin Publishing, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Management | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Data Warehousing | Databases | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Database Management Systems | Databases | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Software Industry Report, published by Millin Publishing, Inc. on October 4, 1999. The length of the article is 456 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: ORACLE, UNISYS, HYPERION, IBM, NCR, LEAD EFFORT TO STANDARDIZE ENTERPRISE INFORMATION SHARING.(common warehouse metadata interchange)(Brief Article)
Publication: Software Industry Report (Newsletter)
Date: October 4, 1999
Publisher: Millin Publishing, Inc.
Volume: 31 Issue: 19 Page: 1

Article Type: Brief Article

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Up and Running With DB2 Udb Ese: Partitioning for Performance in an E-Business Intelligence World (IBM Redbooks)

Average customer rating:

Up and Running With DB2 Udb Ese: Partitioning for Performance in an E-Business Intelligence World (IBM Redbooks)
IBM Redbooks
Manufacturer: IBM.Com/Redbooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Data Warehousing | Databases | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Database Management Systems | Databases | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Databases | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Databases | Microsoft | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Engineering | Reference | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0738429309

Book Description

A resource guide for starting your own business. Includes current state and federal start-up information, contacts, statistics, and legislation.

Starting and Operating a Business in Connecticut: A Step-By-Step Guide (Smartstart Your Business in)

Average customer rating:

Starting and Operating a Business in Connecticut: A Step-By-Step Guide (Smartstart Your Business in)
Michael D. Jenkins
Manufacturer: Oasis Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Legal Guides | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

New Business Enterprises | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1555712134

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