In my book, Measuring Business Intelligence Success, I created the TBIA Business Intelligence Capability Maturity Model (BI-CMM), which defines a comprehensive business intelligence (BI) audit program. The BI-CMM provides a blueprint for audits and includes:
- What is to be audited Definitions and descriptions of the BI assets.
- Measurement factors/ key performance indicators (KPIs). Business drivers and integral aspects of the assets have been identified which are used to rate the BI assets.
- A scale to be used for measurement. Industry guidelines and best practices have been identified and grouped into categories as a scale against which an organization may be measured.
- An audit methodology. Each of the steps or processes in the audit, along with audit guidelines and available tools are defined.
- How to use the results. The audit methodology in the TBIA BI-CMM includes a well-defined program for using the results of the BI audit. This is an action response program directed at improving the BI asset base for the organization.
In my first series of columns, I described measurement factors, i.e., KPIs, to be used in auditing the assets. In this series, I will define and describe all the parts of the BI asset base. There are currently some ambiguities within the industry related to these BI assets. However, for the first time, every BI component will be identified and described in sufficient detail to ensure a clear understanding of the place of that component in the BI asset structure.
The Business Intelligence Asset Base
In order to review and assess BI assets, it is necessary first to define those assets. We need to understand the exact nature of the spider web of data, infrastructures, constructs and software called BI. In first column of the series, I will define all the primary components of the BI asset base. I will also describe some of the graphics and tools that have been used within the TBIA BI-CMM to assist in driving, i.e., directing, the audit of these BI assets.
The BI-CMM
The TBIA BI-CMM includes graphics and tools that may be used to direct and document the audit process. The tools created to assist in the definition of the BI assets are the audit wheels. These audit wheels define each component of the BI asset base. There are three levels of audit wheels included in the TBIA BI-CMM. The summary level includes all the audit wheels (this will be presented in the later articles). The first level (Figure 1) outlines all the parts of the BI asset base. And, the double wheels, which include a second level audit wheel (Figure 2). The second level audit wheels for each component define each of the key assessment features for that component. The primary targets of the audit of the BI Assets are the key assessment features, which are depicted in the second level audit wheels.
Together, these BI-CMM audit wheels define the whole of the BI asset base and drive the audit process.
Figure 1: Outline of the BI Asset Base
Figure 2: BI Asset Base Including Second Level Data Audit Wheel
The BI Assets
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