Perhaps the most difficult part of any Six Sigma program for business intelligence involves the initial definitions and metrics that provide the foundation. A Six Sigma BI initiative is focused on the customer and the customer requirements; a Six Sigma level of excellence in the product; and a rigorous, data-driven Six Sigma process to achieve quality and efficiency goals. There are three considerations.
- What exactly is the business intelligence product?
- How do we define and measure product quality?
- Who are the customers?
Describing and defining the business intelligence product, and identifying the multiple customers for the business intelligence product, are the crucial bookends to determining the elusive business intelligence quality.
Defining the Business Intelligence Product
Identifying the business intelligence product, in all its myriad forms, can be a difficult process, especially with the growing number of stakeholders and uses. The term pervasive business intelligence has entered the industry terminology. There are myriad forms and varieties of business intelligence product. However, the core BI product is comprised of data, information and intelligence.
Defining and Measuring Business Intelligence Quality
Defining business intelligence product quality requires identifying the characteristics which the customer perceives as essential to product quality. In addition, we need to define the metrics that can be used to measure those critical to quality characteristics. (For example, query response time may be measured as seconds from key entry to reply.) BI quality means quality data, delivered in an easy-to-understand form to the right people and/or systems, at the right time. Effective management of business intelligence requires that we translate that general description for quality into specific characteristics and metrics that can be used to monitor and improve the product.
Who Are the Customers: Hearing the Voices
The success of Six Sigma in business has been based on efficiently producing a product that meets or exceeds the needs of the customer. Current best practices for business intelligence also focus on meeting customer requirements. For a Six Sigma BI program, however, we need to extend that customer focus to include defining and measuring the quality of the business intelligence product. The business intelligence customers, unlike those in the general business arena, are primarily internal to the organization. The first three groups of customers, the end user, the customer.
This article is written by Dorothy Miller. Please visit this link to read full article.