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BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE AND COGNOS
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Contents
Business Intelligence Overview ...................................................................................................... 3
History ......................................................................................................................................... 3
BI Adoption ................................................................................................................................. 3
Components of BI ....................................................................................................................... 4
Queries and Reports ............................................................................................................... 4
Dashboards ............................................................................................................................. 4
Analysis ................................................................................................................................... 5
Data Sources ............................................................................................................................... 5
Relational versus Dimensional Database ................................................................................ 5
Data Warehouse ..................................................................................................................... 5
Extract, Transform and Load (ETL) .......................................................................................... 6
FirstVision and FirstVision Business Intelligence ............................................................................ 7
Business Intelligence Resources ..................................................................................................... 8
Understanding Business Intelligence .......................................................................................... 8
IBM Cognos Business Intelligence .............................................................................................. 8
Links ........................................................................................................................................ 8
Documents .............................................................................................................................. 8
IBM Cognos 8 to BusinessObjects Mapping ............................................................................... 9
IBM Cognos 8 BI ............................................................................................................................ 10
Core Applications ...................................................................................................................... 10
Additional Applications ............................................................................................................. 11
Performance Management Applications .................................................................................. 12
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Business Intelligence Overview
Business Intelligence (BI) describes the methods, applications, and technologies used to access,
analyze, and integrate data in order to improve business decision-making.
In practice, BI is a framework to help a business make better strategic decisions by leveraging
data from its own resources, such as data warehouses, databases, or flat files.
Business intelligence has largely replaced the term “executive information systems,” which
more closely matched the dashboard concept.
History
The concept of using information collected about the organization and the competition to
succeed has been in use long before the introduction of the term “business intelligence.” Sun
Tzu, a Chinese general of the 5th century BC, says in his work “The Art of War” that, “what
enables the wise commander to strike and conquer, and achieve things beyond the reach of
ordinary men, is foreknowledge.”
The phrase “business intelligence” was coined by IBM researcher Hans Peter Luhn in a 1958
article where he defined the term as "the ability to apprehend the interrelationships of
presented facts in such a way as to guide action towards a desired goal."
In 1989, Howard Dresner proposed business intelligence as an umbrella term to describe
"concepts and methods to improve business decision making by using fact-based support
systems."
Whether they call it knowledge, data, competitive information, or business intelligence,
business owners have always looked for ways to observe, collect, analyze, and share
information with the intention of making the business more profitable, more efficient, and less
vulnerable to competitors. These are the goals of business intelligence.
BI Adoption
With the size of modern businesses and the wealth of data that can be collected, it has become
difficult for one person to comprehend all the information that might impact a decision.
Even so, many people continue to rely on “soft” information, such as experience, rules of
thumb, and instinct, to make decisions, to the exclusion of “hard” numerical data, because the
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reporting and analysis tools to make use of data have tended to be difficult to access, use, and
update.
Proper planning, good data quality, attention to data warehouse structure, and good
communication are all keys to avoiding BI adoption resistance.
Components of BI
Every business intelligence tool is designed to answer variations on four questions:
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What happened?
What is happening right now?
Why did it happen?
What happens next?
Which are all intended to help answer the most important business question:
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What should we do about it?
The BI functions and activities that address these questions are queries and reports,
dashboards, and analysis. Other BI functions support these applications by sharing reports with
others, structuring data into discreet parcels, and creating interactive graphic representations
of data.
Queries and Reports
A query is a structured request to the data warehouse for all the data that fits within the
parameters defined in the query. The query reflects a proposed business question like, “How
many of our customers used our introductory interest rate?” However, a query is not a simple
question; it’s more like a mathematical equation: ‘All Customers’ minus ‘Customers who did not
use introductory interest rate’ equals ‘Customers who used introductory interest rate.’
A report is the information returned by a query, and also the formatted virtual or physical
document that presents the information to an audience.
Queries and reports address the question, “What happened?”
Dashboards
A dashboard can be described as an interface that aims to consolidate and integrate the most
important information from multiple components into a unified display. A dashboard enables
users to monitor status in real time or near real time.
Dashboards can address the question, “What is happening right now?”
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Analysis
Analysis is not a function of BI, but an activity that uses BI tools such as reports and dashboards.
Analysis is sometimes confused with reporting, but they are distinct: reports deliver data, but
analysis delivers insight. Another way of looking at analysis is to remember that analysts use
reports rather than create them.
Analysis addresses the questions, “Why did it happen?” and “What happens next?” and
prepares the decision-maker to respond to the question, “What should we do about it?”
Data Sources
Business Intelligence data sources traditionally include databases for customer information and
employee information databases, and can be flat (table) files, relational databases, or
dimensional databases. Businesses have also begun to explore using non-traditional data
sources such as email and web pages, which are not stored in structured databases.
Relational versus Dimensional Database
In a relational database, the rows of a table represent records (information about separate
items) and the columns represent fields (attributes of a record). A relational database matches
information from a field in one table with information in a corresponding field of another table
to produce a third table that combines requested data.
Data warehouses more commonly use more complex database schema such as dimensional
models so that information can be brought together in meaningful ways. In the dimensional
model, a database consists of a single large table of facts that are described using dimensions
and measures. A dimension provides the context of a fact (such as who participated, when and
where it happened, and its type). A measure is a quantity describing the fact, such as revenue.
Data Warehouse
A data warehouse is a copy of a transaction database that is designed for query and analysis. It
is updated in batches or in real time and is intended to provide organizations with information
on which to base decision-making.
A data warehouse is not an exact copy of a transaction database. In creating a data warehouse,
unnecessary information should be deleted and data quality improved. A data warehouse may
even merge data from a variety of source systems. The most obvious reason to use a data
warehouse over a live database as a source for reporting is that querying a live database slows
down the operational system, impacting efficiency and the effectiveness of customer support.
However, using a data warehouse as the source for reports can provide many other
advantages:
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Improves data access time
Standardizes data
Provides a more comprehensive information source
Lowers reporting costs
Increases access to data
Extract, Transform and Load (ETL)
Extract, transform, and load (ETL) is a process that extracts data from sources, transforms it to
meet operational needs, and loads it into the target database or data warehouse.
The transform stage is the most complex. During transformation, the extracted data may be
filtered, sorted, cleaned, translated (for example, if the source system stores 1 for male and 2
for female, but the warehouse stores M for male and F for female), encoded (for example,
mapping "Male" to "1" and "Mr" to M), merged with other data, aggregated, pivoted (turning
multiple columns into multiple rows or vice versa), validated, and so on.
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FirstVision and FirstVision Business Intelligence
FirstVision is a group of software applications and services that facilitate electronic payment
processing. FirstVision services are divided into three main categories: Operational Services,
Professional Services, and Portfolio Management.
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Operational Services range from the optimization, management, and delivery of back
office and customer service operations, to card production and printing of letters and
statements.
Professional Services incorporate training, portfolio and operation consulting, custom
code development, and project management.
Portfolio Management is designed to enhance marketing, risk assessment, and fraud
assessment, and coordinate collections tracking and analysis efforts. FirstVision
Portfolio Management includes Business Intelligence.
FirstVision Business Intelligence components, tools, and services aim to make information
actionable. In other words, FirstVision gives business users the capacity to analyze data, and
from that analysis, identify business opportunities to generate revenue and reduce risk/cost by:
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Optimizing decision support
Improving performance management
Identifying new business opportunities
Identifying profitability
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Business Intelligence Resources
The documents and links listed here are in an order that might aid understanding.
Understanding Business Intelligence
History of Business Intelligence
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1y5jBESLPE
BI Next Generation
http://www.b-eye-network.com/view/13057
Data Warehousing 101
http://www.b-eye-network.com/view/12929
Dimensional Modeling vs. Relational Modeling
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Database_model
Seven Steps to Creating a Data Driven
Decision Making Culture
http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2006/10/seven-steps-tocreating-a-data-driven-decision-making-culture.html
Using Dashboard-Based Business
Intelligence Systems
http://gbr.pepperdine.edu/034/bis.html
Business Intelligence White Papers
http://www.businessintelligence.com/
Data Integration Glossary
DIGloss.pdf
Executive Information Systems
http://www.bestpricecomputers.co.uk/glossary/executiveinformation-systems.htm
IBM Cognos Business Intelligence
Links
IBM Cognos BI Overview demonstration
http://download.boulder.ibm.com/ibmdl/pub/software/data/swlibrary/cognos/demos/od_cognos8/ibm_cognos_bi.html
IBM Cognos 8 BI v4 publications library
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/c8bi/v8r4m0/index.jsp
Cognos website Cognos 8 info
http://www.cognos-bi.info/cognos8.html
IBM Cognos BI Radio podcasts
http://www-01.ibm.com/software/data/bi-radio/episodes.html
IBM Learner Portal for training
http://eb90.elearn.ihost.com/wps/portal/
IBM Cognos BI Demo directory
http://download.boulder.ibm.com/ibmdl/pub/software/data/swlibrary/cognos/demos/od_cognos8/
Cognos to BusinessObjects comparison
http://www.bi-dw.info/businessobjects-vs-cognos.htm
Documents
Overview Presentation transcript
IBM Cognos 8 BI Overview Presentation Transcript.pdf
Getting Started
IBM Cognos 8 BI Getting Started.pdf
IBM Cognos Connection
IBM Cognos 8 BI Connection UG.pdf
Query Studio
IBM Cognos 8 BI Query Studio UG.pdf
Report Studio
IBM Cognos 8 BI Reporting Datasheet.pdf
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IBM Cognos 8 BI Advanced Reporting Presentation.pdf
IBM Cognos 8 BI Report Studio Express UG.pdf
IBM Cognos 8 BI Report Studio Professional UG.pdf
Event Studio
IBM Cognos 8 BI Event Studio UG.pdf
Metric Studio
IBM Cognos 8 BI Metric Studio UG.pdf
Analysis Studio
IBM Cognos 8 BI Analysis Studio UG.pdf
Administration and Security
IBM Cognos 8 BI Admin and Security UG.pdf
Framework Manager
IBM Cognos 8 BI Framework Manager Tutorial.pdf
IBM Cognos 8 to BusinessObjects Mapping
IBM Cognos 8
(Description)
BusinessObjects
IBM Cognos Connection
Web portal
InfoView
Query Studio
Ad hoc querying and reporting
Report Studio Express
Managed reporting
Report Studio Professional
Managed reporting
Analysis Studio
Multidimensional analysis
Event Studio
Business activity monitoring
Alerts
Metric Studio
Comparing performance
measures to desired
performance
Dashboard
Framework Manager
Data modeling
Designer
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IBM Cognos 8 BI
The core Cognos BI 8 applications are IBM Cognos Connection, Query Studio, Report Studio,
Analysis Studio, Metrics Studio, and Event Studio. Additional applications include Framework
Manager, IBM Cognos 8 Go! Office, IBM Cognos Go! Search, and Transformer.
IBM Cognos 8 Controller, IBM Cognos 8 Workforce Performance, and IBM Cognos Planning are part of
the performance management solution.
Core Applications
IBM Cognos Connection
IBM Cognos Connection is the Web portal for IBM Cognos 8.
It is the starting point to access BI information and the
functionality of IBM Cognos 8. Through the portal, users can
publish, find, manage, organize, and view business
intelligence content, accessing the various studios and
performing content administration, including scheduling and
distributing reports, and creating jobs. System administrators
also use the portal to administer servers, optimize
performance, and set permissions.
Query Studio
Query Studio is the reporting tool for creating simple queries
and reports. A casual user can use Query Studio to create
self-serve reports.
Query Studio provides direct interaction with data.
Report Studio Express
The Express authoring mode provides a simplified and
focused Report Studio interface. It is designed for nontechnical users to create traditional financial and
management statement reports. This mode allows access to
dimensionally-modeled data and uses a member-oriented
data tree, by default. It supports crosstab reports.
Express authoring mode does not allow users to modify
objects that can be inserted only in the Professional authoring
mode, such as charts, maps, and lists.
Express authoring mode allows the user to view live data.
Report Studio Professional
The Professional authoring mode gives users access to the
full range of Report Studio functionality. In this mode, the user
can create any report type, including charts, maps, lists, and
repeaters, using any data source (relational or
multidimensional).
Professional authoring mode does not allow the user to view
live data.
Event Studio
Event Studio alerts decision-makers of events as they
happen, so that they can make timely and effective decisions.
Specify the event condition, or a change in data, that is
important. When an agent created in Event Studio detects an
event, it can perform tasks, such as sending an email, adding
information to the portal, and running reports.
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Metric Studio
Metric Studio is a scorecarding and metrics tool, helping
translate strategy into relevant, measurable goals. It tracks
performance against predetermined targets and indicates the
current status of the business.
Metric Studio can model metrics and relationships based on
any standard or proprietary scorecarding and management
methodology already in use.
Analysis Studio
With Analysis Studio, it is possible to see trends and
understand anomalies or variances that may not be evident
with other types of reporting. Analysis Studio users can easily
focus on what is important even with large volumes of
dimensional data.
Analysis Studio users interact directly with visible data.
Mainly used by business analysts.
Additional Applications
Framework Manager
Transformer
IBM Cognos 8 Go! Office
Business Intelligence and Cognos
Framework Manager is a modeling tool for creating and
managing business-related metadata for use in all Cognos 8
BI applications. It lets modelers model relational data
dimensionally, apply hierarchies to allow drill behavior, apply
member functions and query any of the supported data
sources (relational database with SQL or OLAP with MDX).
The main users of Framework manager are data warehouse
developers and data modelers. Report authors base on the
metadata information set up using Framework Manager when
creating new reports.
IBM Cognos 8 Transformer is a multi-dimensional data
modeling component. It is used to create a multi-dimensional
model: a business presentation of the information in one or
more different data sources that share common data. After
adding metadata from IBM Cognos 8 packages, reports, and
other various data sources, modelling the dimensions,
customizing the measures, and applying IBM Cognos 8
secured views with dimensional filtering, PowerCubes can be
created based on this model. These cubes can be deployed
to support OLAP reporting and analysis around the globe.
IBM Cognos 8 Go! Office allows users to work with secure
content in a Microsoft Office environment, including data,
metadata, headers, footers, and charts. Predefined reports
and be used, or new content can be created using Query
Studio, Analysis Studio, or Report Studio.
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IBM Cognos Go! Search
IBM Cognos Go! Search allows full-text searches of IBM
Cognos 8 business intelligence content frim IBM Cognos
Connection, Cognos Viewer, Query Studio, and Analysis
Studio.
Administrators create and manage the search index.
Administrators can also create Go! cards which allow
enterprise search engines, such as IBM WebSphere
Information Integrator OmniFind Edition, to index IBM Cognos
8 content. IBM Cognos Go! Search also allows administrators
to easily supply the Google OneBox for Enterprise with
report, metric, and search result content.
IBM Cognos Go! Dashboard
IBM Cognos 8 Go Dashboard allows executives to monitor
the things that are most important to them like key human
resource measures such as employee rankings.
IBM Cognos 8 BI Go Mobile
IBM Cognos 8 BI Go Mobile allows executives to stay
informed when they're on the road. On mobile devices, IBM
Cognos 8 BI can take care of location intelligence,
automatically filtering a report based on regional data; for
example, so a report automatically displays information for
customers where the executive is currently located.
Performance Management Applications
IBM Cognos 8 Controller
IBM Cognos 8 Controller is a Web-based financial
consolidation tool that provides standard reports to support
both statutory and management reporting.
IBM Cognos 8 Workforce Performance
IBM Cognos 8 Workforce Performance is an analytic
application to help organizations optimize human resources
management. It provides packaged reports of workforce
measures to help improve planning and management.
IBM Cognos Planning
IBM Cognos Planning provides the ability to plan, budget, and
forecast in a collaborative, secure manner.
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