Business Intelligence and Analytics: Improving Your Competency

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Business Intelligence Competency Centers

Business Intelligence Competency Centers (BICC) or BI Centers of Excellence (BI COE) are sometimes located within forward-thinking IT, finance or operations groups. However, it is recommended to separate this function from front-line operations to allow for a more strategic, longer-term focus. Optimally, a centrally-resourced group should act as an information hub and support business units in their evolutionary efforts to improve their BI capabilities.

This evolutionary process need not be serial in nature. If there is a significant opportunity to leverage analytics and modeling in one part of the organization, there is no legitimate reason to wait until the rest of the organization catches up. Analyzing a credible data mart within a business unit can be very effective, without waiting for an enterprise data warehouse initiative to be completed.

Growing your BI competency through this comprehensive, five-level business strategy requires a strong commitment and vision from senior management. Consider taking advantage of this golden opportunity to improve insight to drive better decisions and improve performance.

Start today by identifying your current BI capabilities and begin developing a strategy to improve your BI and analytics competency. Investigate significant opportunities with quick turnaround to show early success and build support. Advanced BI and analytics is a fascinating evolutionary process that will ultimately transform your business.

Craig Wacaser has more than 20 years experience helping medium and large companies solve business problems and improve performance through technology-oriented business solutions. He has held business development, sales and sales management positions with IBM, SAS, Hewlett-Packard, Teradata, and D&B. Craig earned his Bachelor's degree in Marketing from Arizona State University and his MBA from the Anderson School at UCLA. He can be reached at cwacaser@yahoo.com.