The Business Intelligence (BI) initiative is a collaborative effort between the Office of Planning and Analysis (OPA) and the Office of Information Technology (OIT) aimed at improving how data is gathered, analyzed, and shared across the University with the goal of fostering a culture of collaboration and data-driven decision-making. The BI initiative at the University has three components: improved processes, increased collaboration, and easier to use technologies.

Process
The BI initiative will initiate a data governance practice to improve data definitions and implement consistent practices for gathering and analyzing data across the University. In addition, an emphasis on training and development will help staff and faculty members obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to acquire and use data effectively.

Collaboration
BI will provide a common home for institutional and unit data, facilitating the transparency and availability of data. In addition, new capability to distribute the development of reports and dashboards will allow users to share their ideas and knowledge and disseminate their insights and innovations throughout the University.

Technology
The BI initiative will provide users with easier to use reporting tools, empowering faculty and staff to access the data they need to make evidence-based decisions. In addition, centrally supported tools empower units to develop their own reports and data-driven processes without needing heavy IT infrastructure investments.

Why Business Intelligence?
Now more than ever, the decisions we make at the University need to be rooted in data. The costs of many of the resources needed to sustain the University are escalating. State appropriations are unlikely to rebound significantly. We must look for ways to continue to advance the excellence of the University at lower cost. Meeting this challenge requires us to innovate and develop strategies to improve efficiency and productivity.

The BI initiative can help by providing decision makers at all levels of the University with relevant, accurate, and consistent data as well as the tools and skills to analyze them. Examples of ways in which BI can be useful include: monitoring and predicting enrollment to inform course scheduling and support, and analyzing unit spending by category or item to improve allocation of resources. Most importantly, BI ensures that University faculty and staff have accurate and consistent data to make the best possible decisions.

If you have any questions about the BI initiative at the University, please send an email to opa@umn.edu. If you would like to receive updates on the progress of the BI initiative, you can join the listserv at bi-implementation@lists.umn.edu.