BI Business Analysts Needed
January 31, 2012 by btaub
Filed under All, Recruiting
Dataspace is looking for 2 business intelligence analysts for positions at clients in New York State. These are true analyst, not developer-level, roles. So, while a knowledge of BI technologies is necessary, the role will not entail actual BI development.
We will consider applicants for either contract or permanent employment.
- BI Analyst: 2 needed -need analysts with understanding of SQL/Cognos/SAS but they need to understand the tools conceptually, don’t need to be hands-on programmers
- This is truly a higher-level analyst role, not a developer role. Consultants will be responsible for tasks such as:
Gathering requirements from end users
Understanding the data flows between systems
Designing business processes & reworking data flows
- Required qualifications include:
Perfect verbal ability
Strong writing skills
Business analysis / user interview skills
Technical analysis & design skills
- Desired qualifications include:
Ideally understand healthcare and financial data
Knowledge of healthcare / health insurance industry
Knowledge of financial systems is a plus
- Duration: 6 months + likely extensions
- CONTRACTOR CANDIDATES MUST BE DIRECT EMPLOYEES OF THE CONTRACTING FIRM – NO SUBCONTRACTS
Detailed Role Description: Business Analyst Role Description
The Myth of Self Service BI
January 17, 2012 by Thoughts from the Dataspace
Filed under All, benjamin taub, business intelligence, business intelligence usage, data warehousing
Most business intelligence efforts start with a statement like the following, “Let’s build a BI system so our employees can get whatever data they need, when they need it.” While well intentioned, statements like these are misguided.
The truth:
- If folks do their jobs today without using a shiny, new BI tool, why are they going to put extra effort into learning your snappy new tool?
- Most folks don’t get a big thrill out of accessing data - BI is like a dishwasher, a tool for getting a job done. Do you want to go to classes and learn a panoply of new things just to use your dishwasher?
- Most folks’ data needs are limited to a relatively narrow range of topics (e.g. sales folks typically don’t need to access HR data).
- Even with data warehouses and strong metadata, BI tool vendors have not yet produced a tool that gives anyone simple access to every piece of data in an organization.
The implications:
- A few folks do have the need, desire & technical skills to get and analyze their own data. These folks are called data analysts.
- While it’s not sexy in terms of BI (is anything sexy in terms of BI?), the vast majority of folks have structured jobs that require access to a limited range of data and they usually need it in some set format (e.g. this week’s accounts receivable aging report). Assume that these folks need BI tools that provide predefined reports into which they can enter a few parameters - tools like WebFocus, Crystal Reports, and SQL Server Reporting Services. Also assume that these folks will NOT create these reports on their own - you will need technical experts to create and maintain these reports.
- You are far more likely to see wide usage of your BI systems if your business processes are designed to be data driven. Business process design, along with a culture change towards being data-focused is a prerequisite to widespread BI adoption. It is also hard, time consuming work.
- Widespread BI adoption isn’t always the correct measure of success. A $2 million BI system that serves just one user could be a major success if that one person makes or feeds input into multi-million dollar decisions.
So, if you want a clear path to ROI, rather than starting out to build a BI system, start out to change your organization. Then, figure out how and where BI is necessary to enable that change.
Business Intelligence is ALCHEMY
September 12, 2011 by Thoughts from the Dataspace
Filed under All, business intelligence, data warehousing
What does a well-designed BI system really do? It takes bits of data, the byproducts of running an organization, and turns them into nuggets of gold - into valuable insights.
So, if alchemy was the study of turning less valuable objects into gold, is BI really any different? Well, I guess it is different in one way… BI works.
— Ben
Click here to see how CFOs think about business intelligence
September 2, 2011 by Thoughts from the Dataspace
Filed under All, business intelligence, data warehousing
Really interesting article recommended by Dan Abell, an old buddy and customer, on how CFOs really view business intelligence and data warehousing
Click here to see how CFOs think about business intelligence
September 2, 2011 by Thoughts from the Dataspace
Filed under All, business intelligence, data warehousing
Really interesting article recommended by Dan Abell, an old buddy and customer, on how CFOs really view business intelligence and data warehousing
BI Turns Expenses into Assets
September 2, 2011 by Thoughts from the Dataspace
Filed under All, business intelligence, data warehousing
As a recovering CPA I know that accountants think of the cost of running IT as a big, hairy, recurring expense. I spend the money today and it’s gone.
On the other hand, they think of building a new building or buying a new machine as an investment. I may pay the cash today but this thing is going to more than pay off over the next 5, 10, 20 … years.
How does business intelligence, and data warehousing, fit in? Well, BI turns that big, hairy, recurring expense into an investment. The act of running IT, of collecting data becomes an act of building, and constantly enhancing, an extremely valuable asset.
So, what is IT in your company, an expense… or an investment in building a data asset?
Consulting Sales Position
August 16, 2011 by btaub
Filed under All, Recruiting
CAN YOU SELL AND RECRUIT? Do you have the skills, experience and discipline to take a great company and get it the sales exposure it deserves? Can you also apply that background to helping us find and snag the best consulting talent?
Founded in 1994 by one of the leading experts in the field of business intelligence and executive reporting systems, Dataspace has developed a reputation as a leader in helping organizations capitalize on the data they gather every day. Our clients represent some of the most recognizable brands in the world and include top automobile manufacturers, hospitals, insurance companies, distributors, and other industries.
This position represents an opportunity to work in one of the hottest areas of information technology for a company with a long track record of success. The candidate we’re looking for will have the following:
- Experience in B to B sales
- Extremely strong work ethic
- Goal focus
- Structured approach to selling
Interested? Send your resume and cover letter to careers@dataspace.com. We look forward to hearing from you.
Quiz – July 2011: Hunh?
July 7, 2011 by btaub
Filed under All, business intelligence, data warehousing, Quizzes
Whaa? Er, Eh, mmmmmmmm, hunh?
Quiz – January 2011: Name the BI Vendor or Candy Company
January 17, 2011 by btaub
Filed under All, business intelligence, data warehousing, Quizzes
Confection... or BI Technology? Can you tell the difference?
Quiz – November 2010: BI Industry Consolidation
October 30, 2010 by btaub
Filed under All, business intelligence, Quizzes
Hey, thanks to everyone who submitted answers. Here is the answer key:
Business Objects – SAP
Crystal Reports- SAP
Sybase – SAP
DataStage – IBM
Netezza – IBM
Red Brick – IBM
Informix – IBM
TM1 – IBM
VMark – IBM
Cognos – IBM
Essbase- Oracle
Arbor Software – Oracle
Siebel Analytics – Oracle
DATAllegro – Microsoft
Panorama (OLAP DB Technology) – Microsoft
MicroStrategy – MicroStrategy
Dataspace – Dataspace
