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.

Children of a Lesser God essays

Children of a Lesser God essays The movie Children of a Lesser God can be best described as a love story that deals with barriers in basic communication. It is a story based on a play about a talented teacher for the deaf named James, who forms an interest in a deaf employee named Sarah, who works for the same school. His job is to help deaf children learn how to speak, so he feels he can help Sarah to do the same. Initially, James runs into problems with her because she doesnt have an interest in learning how to speak and she admits to him that she doesnt know how to read lips. James takes this as a challenge and begins to lure Sarah to him by coincidentally bumping into her from time to time. Once he draws Sarah in by taking her to dinner and communicating with her quite often, they realize that theyve fallen in love. The conflict in the movie is that James unwittingly tries time and time again to get Sarah to speak and learn to read lips and she basically wants him to step into her world of silence. Near the end of the movie we see as James explodes and finally tells her that hes tired of trying to reach out to her all of the time and doesnt understand whats holding her back. Her response is equally explosive as she explains her sentiments about the issue. After some time they experience separated, James and Sarah reunite in the end to resume the love that they share for each other. In the communication context, there are a few characteristics of communication that are dealt with in this movie. The obvious barrier of communication between the deaf and the hearing, relationship conflict, and the use of nonverbal communication, are all aspects in communication that are touched upon in this movie. First, the main subject of the movie obviously is how James a hearing instructor tries to communicate not only with his hearing-impaired students, but the woman that he eventually falls in love with, Sarah. This may...

Supreme court justices- controversial case Essay

Supreme court justices- controversial case - Essay Example Most commonly, the separation of church and state applies to autonomous maintenance of both secularity and religious exercise. In recent news, Chief Justice Samuel Alito has repeatedly proven himself unfit for the position he has thus far occupied. As per a specific chain of events that led to his forced resignation, I have taken over his position on the Supreme Court. As most are aware, the former Chief Justice Samuel Alito maintained constant sway toward the conservative right, often tying up verdicts due to his obvious religious views and allegiance to the republican party. Alito was nominated to fill the position once occupied by Sandra Day O’Conner, by President George W. Bush on October 31, 2005. He has maintained a consistent record of conservative rulings since that time including cases such as C.H. versus Olivia et al and the case of ACLU versus Schundler. Both of the afore mentioned cases were ruled in favor of religion versus separation of church and state. Generally, conservative rulings are rulings that are in favor of the government or the large corporations as opposed to liberal ruling s which focus on civil rights and the ruling in favor of the individual or smaller organization. As per the resignation of Chief Justice Alito, I have been appointed by the new President of the United States, Barack Obama. Just recently, a case has come before me which revisits the notion of separation of church and state. This case is known as Smith-Jones vs. the state of Pennsylvania. In this case, Jack Smith and Larry Jones have joined in matrimony under the authority of a Buddhist religious leader via a private ceremony. However, the existing laws do not favor same sex marriages when it comes to filing taxes (or anything else for that matter). The dilemma faced by Mr. Smith-Jones and Mr. Smith Jones is that when it became time to file taxes, the Smith-Jones couple was not able to file as

Using Collaboration Tools to Market Products PowerPoint Presentation

Using Collaboration Tools to Market Products - PowerPoint Presentation Example This is especially in the beauty industry where this study focuses to come up with an effective collaboration tool for a jewelry store. Collaboration tool product advocated in this presentation is â€Å"Yammer†, which will not only aid in serving clients as necessitated but also manage jewelry store’s human resource (Nash, 2011). There are numerous collaborations tools, which corporations can use and attain their respective goals. However, in ascertaining collaboration tool that will work appropriately for a given corporation it entails meticulous research coupled with considering its respective goals. This is because the need to have an effective collaboration tool is to aid a given Corporation to attain its targets with ease. Some of the probable web-based collaboration tools for a jewelry store include, Compared to other collaborative tools, Yammer emerges as the best option for jewelry store. This is because of its varied and essential features essential for reaching large pool of clients. It also enables effective management of human resource. Some of its essential functionalities include, Yammer 2.0 version will enable Jewelry Store Heads to have direct conversations with their clients as well as interacting with employees (Markowitz, 2011). Hence, make it easy for its respective departments handle clientele’s complaints and suggestions with immediate thus improve their services. Technical department will set Yammer 2.0 and other recently incorporated versions such that varied departmental sections are in constant contact with each other, hence share information internally (Nash, 2011). Internal interaction with the aid of Yammer aims at improving social networking such that there is no wastage of both resources and time, which employees use while holding meetings (Sumner, 2011). Therefore, Jewelry store will be posting internal and urgent information to its employees who in turn will try to give their sentiments

Pscychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Pscychology - Essay Example To become an effective student we need to use good memory skills like "making an effort to remember the things learnt, controlling the form and subject matter, strengthening neural connection" and "allowing time to solidify pathways" We must firstly be interested in what we are learning. A student should select important topics and categorize them into groups. It is an effective tool for one to read aloud while learning and simultaneously visualize and associate ones thoughts and ideas with the subject matter. Finally consolidate the work by reviewing the matter that that has been already learned. The key components of the training program for improving work group communications would be basically education, based on motivation of the participants. It would include workshops to build participant’s knowledge, kindle their curiosity and bring out their ideas and feelings into the open. It would also include role plays with a lot of fun and discussions that follow a positive attitude. â€Å"Classical conditioning† is a technique used in behavioral training where a natural occurring stimulus is paired with a response. Cognitive social learning is when a response is first established and then gradually strengthened. Operant conditioning builds an association between behavior and the consequence. Therefore man cannot work or do anything by himself without having either a motivation or a consequence that he works towards using either prejudice or discriminative behavior.   Intelligence is a "very general mental capability that, among other things, involves the ability to reason, plan, solve problems, think abstractly, comprehend complex ideas, learn quickly and learn from experience". A number of theories have come forward in the twentieth century regarding intelligence, Howard Gardners Theory Of Multiple Intelligence has eight different components to measure

Life and Debt Documentary: Summary and Analysis

Life and Debt Documentary: Summary and Analysis Life and Debt Film Write The tourist who comes to Jamaica focuses on the beauty of the island. Jamaica is the island where Antiguans suffer and want to escape. However, the natives are too poor to escape the island. Antiguans try their best to satisfy the tourists. The natives envy the tourists because the tourists have the ability to leave their boredom and turn Jamaica into a pleasurable vacation. Stephanie Black, the filmmaker of Life and Debt, is attempting to demonstrate that the tourist, through Jamaica Kincaids description, witnesses the beauty of the island while being oblivious from the harsher realities of the natives. The major themes that Kincaid addresses include the influence of homeland on identity, culture, and the desire for independence. The first themes that will be argued are the perspectives of the tourists, the natives, and the omnipotents view on Jamaica. The first concept that will be argued is the tourists perspective on the natives. In the tourists perspective, they stereotype natives as being relaxed, laid back people, without realizing that natives are working hard to satisfy the tourists. In the tourists perspective on Jamaica, they are fond by the beauty of the island and the continuing sunshine. The continuing sunshine in Jamaica represents a lack of rainfall. This lack of rainfall is a lack of fresh water. This lack of fresh water for the natives does not interest the tourists because the beauty and the sunshine of the island is all that really matters to them. Tourists who swim in the sea have no clue the amount of waste that they create. Also, the tourists do not notice that the food that they are eating is from Miami. The second concept that will be argued is the natives perspective on the tourists. When the tourists arrive in Jamaica, natives automatically label them as being a tourist. In the natives perspective, a tourist is an ugly human being because they do not look, eat, or speak the same way as the natives do. The natives view the tourists as people who make use of poor people for their own satisfaction. The natives must work hard in order to prove pleasure for the tourists. The natives are living in poor conditions wishing that they can be the tourists, because tourists have the ability to leave their boredom and come to a place such as Jamaica to relax. However, in Jamaica, getting off the island is not as easy for the natives then it is for the tourists who are visiting the island. The third concept that will be argued is the omnipotents perspective on Jamaica. The US and European countries may not have authority over Jamaica, but they push their influence and instigate their authority within Jamaica. The United States of America and European countries took advantage of the Jamaicans by creating a trade system in order to earn extra money for themselves. This, in turn, jeopardizes businessmen and farmers in Jamaica because it is harder for them to compete with the US and Europe. Jamaicans are manipulated by the IMF, WB, and WTO. The US and European countries have power over Jamaica because the tourists commodify and exploit the natives by still treating them as slaves. Tourists do not recognize that the natives history, culture, and religion and what Jamaica is all about. All that the tourists care about is their vacation time to relax and be treated as royalty. This is similar to the way they were treated before their independence. The history of Antigua includes Britain controlling the Antiguans. The old Antigua includes many racist moments and slavery work for the Antiguans. The Antiguans speak the same language as Britain. Since English is the Britains language, it is also the Antiguans language. The Antiguans did not have any independence until the time of the Earthquake. When post-colonial happened in 1974, the Antiguans went to the church and thanked a God, a British God. Even though the Antiguans got their freedom and independence, they still had to speak the language of those who enslaved them. Also, the Antiguans had to follow the Britain religion because they have been adapted to this religion. In conclusion, these perspectives have been linked together to prove that tourists are lacking conscious awareness of how the natives live their lives. This type of agency relates to the book â€Å"A Small Place† by Jamaica Kincaid because the Government is also taking advantage of his power of Jamaica. He is taking advantage of his power by delaying the reconstruction of the library because he has, in his perspective, his own priorities to deal with. The library is a symbol of education and culture for the Antiguans. The library can only be re-built if the Antiguans have money to provide for it. The rich people of the Mill Reef Club would help if the old library was re-built. The Government is not doing what is right for the Antiguans. There has been a corruption of the Government because there have been many abuses of power in Jamaica. The funds have been wrongly placed. Drug smuggling is an issue in Jamaica. Also, there has been a misappropriation of political violence. In conclusion, â€Å"Life and Debt† shows the ignorance of tourists who travel to Jamaica for their own enjoyment and satisfaction. Stephanie Black, the filmmaker of Life and Debt, is attempting to demonstrate that the tourist, through Jamaica Kincaids description, witnesses beauty of the island while being oblivious from the harsher realities of the natives. The major themes that Kincaid addresses include the influence of homeland on identity, culture, and the desire for independence. The lives of the natives have no interest to the tourists because the tourists come to enjoy the beauty of the island. In the natives perspective, they view tourists as ugly human beings because tourists are oblivious to how the natives live their lives. The Government is abusing his powers by wrongly placing funds. The United States of America and Europeans took advantage of the Jamaicans by creating a trade system in order to earn extra money for themselves. The Government is also taking advan tage of his power. The library has been pending repairs since 1974. The library is very important to the Jamaicans because the library represents a symbol of education, culture, history, and independence.

The Video Game Narrative Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Video Game Narrative   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first argument that arose out of the video game world was the debate of video game violence. Still unresolved, this debate has actually allowed for the video game industry to come fully into the main stream. As the din over violence quieted the fans of the game society began to focus on issues more akin to their own style. So then began the debate of game play vs. the video game narrative. The question arose; can a game also be a story? While the semantics would suggest that, no, a game cannot be a story, we do realize that a game can contain a story. However, considering the amount of games that contain a story we can surmise that this question doesn’t further our study, and realizing that the amount of games (mostly of the 1980’s) that had no story and only gameplay we can see that the story is not a required facet for a game to be successful.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  So the question is in need of updating. Is the story contained in today’s games the traditional linear story being contained in a non-linear gameplay arena, or do video game stories possess some special qualities that allow a game to be different from a book or movie. To understand the video game we need to look at one of the video game world’s ultimate predecessors: Dungeons and Dragons. Back in the time when teenage guys dressed up as the character that they had spent month after month making stronger, there existed no video games to fool with. No, this was how the nerds of the day hung out. And much like today, where we have â€Å"Halo bashes† of anywhere from 4 to 16 (16 being the average), the competition between warlock and dungeon master was only the beginning   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Oakley 2 of the excitement. The story that played out in D&D was different every time, depending on how the game was played. And like it’s successor, the RPG’s of today (most notably the Final Fantasy series) play the same way as the games of old. So ... ...  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Oakley 4 a necessity? And what other qualities have taken the main stage of video games today?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The video game world is an ever-changing realm, originally it was a staple way to pass the time, then it became what we looked forward to after a hard day’s work. So as the gaming world becomes more complex, new game types emerge to fill our free time. But very rarely does a game like Pac-Man or Pong come out; a game that has no real story in it, it’s just a way to score points. However it is my belief that even when there is no literal story to a multiplayer game we still have a background to the reason we compete. If one were to take the story of the Master Chief and the Covenant out of the game Halo (2001), we would still have a superb multiplayer game. On the outside it would seem that the only reason to play is to kill the other Spartans, there is no deeper story behind it. However, for the players at least, it becomes a contest, and as you play more and more you remember the other games; you want revenge, you want to be better, or you want to d o something funny.