We recently interviewed BPM Partners’ John Colbert, who talked about five common attributes of failed business intelligence projects. One of these attributes is having a very large scope for the business intelligence project. “Once companies realize the benefits of business intelligence projects, they begin to get very ‘frothy’ over the possibilities,” notes John Colbert, vice president of research and analysis, BPM Partners. “Unfortunately, large business intelligence projects are accompanied by increased costs and greater risks.”
Instead of using a business intelligence project to “fix everything,” Colbert recommends starting out with a reasonable scope, one that can, ideally, be completed within a few months. Approach business intelligence projects in phases.
BPM Partners’ advises clients to start business intelligence projects with discrete, concrete and relatively easy applications, such as clean report generation. Then add other business intelligence projects. Be sure to set and achieve milestones, continually check in with business users, and build on early successes.
