End users are using the BI environment to the expected level:
Finally the taste of the pudding is in having it. The end result of all the previously mentioned BI performance parameters is manifested in how much and how well the BI platform is used by the users. The extent of usage is not only an indicator of the success of BI fulfillment, but also the indicator (though not a guarantee) of how well the BI is contributing to the business results. You can measure the success of usage in terms of:
- Users using the data-warehouse as a singular source of information given the data contained and tools available.
- Users are not employing any alternative ways to extract information from the source systems.
- Users are using the capabilities as envisaged. For example, users are making use of drill-downs, hyper-linking in graphics, online filtering, alerts, and exception highlighting, ready to use views etc...
- Users are using the data as envisaged: Users are actually using the width and depth of data which is required to be used. For example, if you are finding users using only a certain narrow set of dimensions linked to their operational needs, but not using a wider range of cuts to do analysis for process improvements, there is a shortfall in the usage objectives.
Users can access the data more easily and quickly because of BI:
Users should be able to create their final outputs much more easily than they were doing it before. It is not an uncommon sight; where users find downloading data in excel from the production systems and slicing and dicing data through pivots as easier, compared to go through the query and analytics tool. This is partly to do with the set-up of your end-user tools, partly training and also the need to change the ingrained habits.
The data in the BI platform is easy and intuitive for users to understand and use:
There is only as much training you can do. A good BI tool should be fairly intuitive (as also the key selling point by the vendors), so that a user can be up and running within literally few hours of training.
BI enables users to think about, ask questions and explore issues:
This is like 'Business Intelligence' promoting 'human intelligence'. With the power of BI, a user can get a force multiplier for generating and using the information. He can intuitively navigate through the data, do the analytics and slice & dice at will. He can dare to ask the business question, which he could not afford to ask before.
BI has improved decision making capabilities of end-users:
This is the ultimate reflection for the width and depth of usage of BI. If a user feels that he can make better, faster and greater number of decisions, one can count it as a success.
Data Source for BI performance measurement on individual usage and impact
This part of assessment is mostly based on user feedback. There can be some other sources, like internal reports, which can tell on which user is using what kind of data and how frequently. |
