Business Intelligence (BI) enables improved, evidence-based decision making by collecting, analyzing, and leveraging data. The Office of Planning and Analysis (OPA) and the Office of Information Technology (OIT) are engaged in an initiative that will advance BI at the University of Minnesota through improved processes, tools, and collaboration.
BI can provide 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 enable more effective resource allocation.
The University is using Oracle's Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition (OBIEE) toolset, which we are branding "UM Analytics," to support a continuum of analytical needs. With UM Analytics, users will be able to create standard reports, ad hoc reports, alerts and analysis, forecasting and predictive modeling. UM Analytics is scheduled to launch in early 2012, after the completion of a three-month pilot focusing on financial content. The financial pilot began in mid-September with volunteer participants from a number of different employee groups, business roles, colleges, campuses, and departments.
In the coming months, we will share stories from staff and faculty at the University who have used BI principles to improve their decision making. In addition, town hall meetings will be held to share information with the University community and to provide a forum for discussion and feedback about BI. To stay up-to-date with all BI information and activities, please join the listserv at BI-IMPLEMENTATION-request@LISTS.UMN.EDU.
If you have any questions about the BI initiative at the University, please send them in an email to opa@umn.edu.