Last updated on Jun 29, 2024

You're juggling BI features and tight project deadlines. How do you make the right choices?

In the fast-paced world of Business Intelligence (BI), you're often caught between the need for comprehensive BI features and the pressure of looming project deadlines. BI encompasses tools and systems that allow a company to gather, store, access, and analyze corporate data to aid in decision-making. The key to making the right choices lies in prioritizing your needs, understanding the scope of your project, and knowing what features will deliver the most value to your stakeholders.

1 Prioritize Needs

When you're under the gun with tight deadlines, it's crucial to identify the must-have BI features that align with your business goals. Start by mapping out the core functionalities that are non-negotiable for your project's success. Consider what data is critical for your decision-makers and ensure that these requirements are at the top of your list. This might mean focusing on real-time data access over advanced analytics if immediate insights are what your business operations demand.

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Mohammad A.

Power BI Architect | BI & Analytics Head/Manager | Data Management | Data Governance | Azure Data Engineering | Power Apps | Power Automate | MSBI | x-ADNOC, x-TCS, x-HARMAN, x-TESCO
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It's been quite a common issue facing scope creep when we get new requirements while already working on the development. So, once we capture the business requirement and understand the end state of the project, we need to work on prioritizing deliverables. I segregate the deliverables based on 1) Priority 2) Quick wins 3) KPIs and business insights which are crucial for decision-makers. 4) Data sources which are easily integrated and accessible. 5) External dependencies of the data sometimes lead to delay in the delivery.

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2 Assess Scope

Understanding the scope of your BI project is essential in making informed decisions. Take into account the size of your datasets, the complexity of your data sources, and the analytical depth required. If you're working with vast amounts of data or a wide variety of sources, you may need to prioritize integration capabilities and scalability. However, for smaller projects, simplicity and ease of use might take precedence to ensure a quick rollout.

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Mohammad A.

Power BI Architect | BI & Analytics Head/Manager | Data Management | Data Governance | Azure Data Engineering | Power Apps | Power Automate | MSBI | x-ADNOC, x-TCS, x-HARMAN, x-TESCO
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When any BI project is kicked-off, we must understand and ready with the answers which gives the dynamics of the data source, starting with the - Tool(s) it is coming from (such as Excel, DB, flat files etc.) - No. of DBs/ tables which need to be connected - Integration feasibility of the connectivity with the BI tool - Data modeling complexity - Data size which is going to be part of data analysis - Scalability possibility in future - Any ETL tool is also involved in data integration and cleansing

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3 Feature Value

Every BI feature comes with its own set of advantages, but not all will be equally beneficial for your project. Evaluate each feature's potential impact on your business outcomes. Will advanced visualization tools significantly enhance your data storytelling? Is mobile access critical for your on-the-go stakeholders? Choose features that offer the highest return on investment, considering both the short-term project deliverables and long-term business strategy.

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4 Time Management

Effective time management is a critical component when juggling BI features with deadlines. Break down your project into manageable phases, assigning realistic timeframes to each component. This modular approach allows you to implement essential BI features first, ensuring that your project can deliver value quickly, even if it's not fully complete. It also provides flexibility to adjust your plan as needed without jeopardizing the entire timeline.

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5 Stakeholder Input

Never underestimate the value of stakeholder input when selecting BI features. Engage with those who will be using the system daily and understand their needs and pain points. Their insights can help you to focus on features that will improve their efficiency and satisfaction with the BI tool, which in turn can lead to better adoption and more meaningful use of the generated insights.

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6 Risk Analysis

Finally, conduct a thorough risk analysis to understand the implications of each choice you make. Consider the potential for data silos, integration issues, or user adoption challenges. By anticipating these risks, you can make strategic decisions that minimize potential problems and ensure that your BI solution is robust, user-friendly, and aligned with your business objectives.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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KUNAL BHAT , PMP

I help Fortune 1000 organization drive digital transformation through SAP S/4HANA, IBP & MM integration | Solution Architect | 40% efficiency gains | PMP
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To navigate BI features and deadlines effectively, prioritize based on business needs: assess which features align closest with project goals and deliver immediate value. Begin with essential functionalities that address critical requirements or pain points. Utilize agile methodologies to iteratively add more features, ensuring each iteration contributes to project milestones. Maintain open communication with stakeholders to understand evolving priorities and make informed decisions. Lastly, leverage analytics to monitor progress and adjust strategies as needed, ensuring alignment with both short-term deadlines and long-term project objectives.

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You're juggling BI features and tight project deadlines. How do you make the right choices?

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2

3

4

5

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7

1 Prioritize Needs

2 Assess Scope

3 Feature Value

4 Time Management

5 Stakeholder Input

6 Risk Analysis

7 Here’s what else to consider

Business Intelligence

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You're juggling BI features and tight project deadlines. How do you make the right choices?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Prioritize Needs

2 Assess Scope

3 Feature Value

4 Time Management

5 Stakeholder Input

6 Risk Analysis

7 Here’s what else to consider

Business Intelligence

Rate this article

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