BI Systems Development Reflective Report: IMAT5166, Walmart Analysis

This reflective report delves into the application of Business Intelligence (BI) systems development, specifically examining its potential impact on Walmart's credit control and overall business operations. The report begins with an introduction to reflective reporting and its significance in understanding lessons learned from previous projects, particularly within the context of BI system development. It explores the author's learning journey, highlighting the importance of BI in addressing business challenges and understanding the compatibility of technology with existing systems. The report then analyzes how BI tools can enhance Walmart's data infrastructure, improve transaction procedures, and address challenges in customer service, such as managing customer information and delivering transaction details. The author discusses performance indicators, the importance of stakeholder involvement, and the flexibility required in BI systems. Ultimately, the report concludes that BI systems can effectively address Walmart's challenges related to multinational merchants, service laws, consumer profile management, and transaction details delivery, optimizing business operations. The bibliography provides a list of references that support the findings.

Running head: BI SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT REFLECTIVE REPORT
BI Systems Development Reflective Report
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1BI SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT REFLECTIVE REPORT
Table of Contents
1. Introduction............................................................................................................................2
2. BI system development learning............................................................................................2
3. Impact on specific BI system development on WALMART.................................................3
3.1 Situation...........................................................................................................................4
3.2 Approach..........................................................................................................................4
4. Conclusion..............................................................................................................................5
5. Bibliography...........................................................................................................................6
Appendix 1: Learning log..........................................................................................................9
Appendix 2: How DWS helped in the first assignment...........................................................10

2BI SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT REFLECTIVE REPORT
1. Introduction
The extensive development in the field of IT has led to the growth of numerous new
technologies such as business intelligence. However, based on the business requirements
there are numerous new specifications and features which are being added with business
intelligence. There are few gaps related with this technology as well, which has to be
identified before incorporating in a business environment to get the best service of this
technology. Thus, there are numerous additional features of BI which has to be understood
with the help of workshop sessions.
Reflective report is define as the type of report which is very much useful to
understand the knowledge gained from the previous assessments or previous projects. The
learning process of the previous projects can be verified and enhancement of the adaptive
ability are the primary contributions of a reflective report.
The notable determination of this reflective report is to critically reflect the lessons
which was learned within this module about the Business Intelligence system development.
This reflective report shall reflect how a new BI system can manage the credit control of
WALMART which is one of the biggest corporate establishment in USA.
2. BI system development learning
According to me, it is very much useful to understand the actual advantage related
with the incorporation of BI in the working environment of WALMART as they have
different contemporary business problems which are needed to be solved. I think that
before any technology is incorporated in a corporate environment, it is very much important
to understand the exact challenges related with the business and the compatibility of the
technology with the other existing technologies. The first assignment helped in understanding

3BI SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT REFLECTIVE REPORT
that there are few business problems in this organization such as the management of the
multinational retailers and the diverse categories of service laws in the business area of
this organization. The significance of understanding the complications faced by the retailers
can also be understood from the DWS. I acknowledge that corporate establishments like
WALMART must be focussing on the significance of the pricing strategies of the services
which are provided by corporate organizations. Credit management is one of the prime
challenge which is faced in WAMART which can be addressed with the help of BI as per my
understanding from the previous assessment.
I have successfully understood the significance of having a great administration at
several stages while incorporating BI systems. I have understood how the incorporation of the
BI can be very much useful to manage the financial information of a corporate organization
such as WALMART.
3. Impact on specific BI system development on WALMART
There were numerous complications and issues with the data infrastructure of
WALMSRT, So I believe that the entire data infrastructure of WALMART can be enhanced
in the first place if BI tools are introduced in the business environment of this organization.
The productivity of the data warehouse can be boosted if the users of this organization gets
access of the service analysis techniques and the ad-hoc reports which are one of the prime
data assets of this corporate establishment.
According to me, the entire transaction procedures among the stakeholders can be
enhanced in the first place if BI systems is introduced in the data warehouse of WALMART.
It can also be said that the product subject area can be enhanced in the first place if the
transaction system of this business is improved. It can also be understood that financial

4BI SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT REFLECTIVE REPORT
security of the stakeholders can be other important contribution related with incorporation of
BI in this organization.
Delivering the transaction details to the consumers was a huge challenge in thus
organization and the introduction of the BI can be very much useful to address this issue from
my perspective. At the same time, I have identified that management of the customer
information is one of the prime challenges which is faced in the customer service department
of WALMART which can be addressed with the help of BI system.
3.1 Situation
At the same time, the previous assessment helped me to understand that the priorities
of the consumers has to be focused in the first place by the administrator of a corporate
organization. It can be declared that the profile of the customers, budget of the customers
as well as the revenue change in the corporate establishments can be managed in the first
place if a BI system is introduced in the warehouse of WALMART.
3.2 Approach
Thus, I believe that there are few performance indicators in WALMART such as the
number of customers, percentage of the market share, and support resolution time. It can be
assumed that it is much useful to understand the significance of considering the performance
indicators while making any type of technological change in a business.
The measurements which reflects the business has to be identified in the first place
before incorporating BI as per my understanding. The objectives and the goals of the systems
has to be understood by every stakeholder of this business. Parameters must be set on the data
of this organization, at the same time the resources who can play a huge role while
incorporating the BI systems. I believe that the BI system must be very much flexible with
the transaction procedures of WALMART.

5BI SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT REFLECTIVE REPORT
4. Conclusion
The prime challenge which was faced in WALMART was the management of
multinational merchants and the service laws of each business area, this problem was
supposed to be solved with the help of a BI system, however this reflective report helped in
understanding that apart from these issues the other problems of WALMART such as the
management of the profile of the consumers and the delivering the transaction details to the
consumers can also be addressed with the help of a BI system. The report was also very much
useful to understand that the business analysts will be very much benefitted if a dedicated BI
system is introduced to optimise the business operations, transactions and the projects under
taken by WALMART. Thus, this report was very much significant to understand the
significance of understanding business environment and the current market conditions before
introducing ant technological change in a corporate environment.

6BI SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT REFLECTIVE REPORT
5. Bibliography
Bernardino, J., & Neves, P. C. (2016). Decision-making with big data using open source
business intelligence systems. In Human Development and Interaction in the Age of
Ubiquitous Technology (pp. 120-147). IGI Global.
Brichni, M., Dupuy-Chessa, S., Gzara, L., Mandran, N., & Jeannet, C. (2017). BI4BI: A
continuous evaluation system for Business Intelligence systems. Expert Systems with
Applications, 76, 97-112.
Dedić, N., & Stanier, C. (2016, November). Towards differentiating business intelligence, big
data, data analytics and knowledge discovery. In International Conference on
Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (pp. 114-122). Springer, Cham.
Drelichowski, L., Olszewski, W., & Sikora, K. (2016). Case Studies: Strategy Management–
Gaining Competitive Advantage In The Industry, Through The Implementation Of
Erp And Business Intelligence. Scientific Bulletin-Economic Sciences, 15(3), 89-98.
Eidizadeh, R., Salehzadeh, R., & Chitsaz Esfahani, A. (2017). Analysing the role of business
intelligence, knowledge sharing and organisational innovation on gaining competitive
advantage. Journal of Workplace Learning, 29(4), 250-267.
Hejazi, A., Abdolvand, N., & Harandi, S. (2017). Assessing the Importance of Data Factors
of Data Quality Model in the Business Intelligence Area. International Journal Of
Trade, Economics And Finance, 8(2), 102-108. doi: 10.18178/ijtef.2017.8.2.547
Hung, S. Y., Huang, Y. W., Lin, C. C., Chen, K., & Tarn, J. M. (2016, June). Factors
Influencing Business Intelligence Systems Implementation Success in the Enterprises.
In PACIS (p. 297).

7BI SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT REFLECTIVE REPORT
Jacobsen, O., & Van Vugt, M. (2017). The Role of Business Intelligence in the
Internationalisation process of SMEs.
Jahantigh, F. F., Habibi, A., & Sarafrazi, A. (2019). A conceptual framework for business
intelligence critical success factors. International Journal of Business Information
Systems, 30(1), 109-123.
Muntean, M. (2018). Business intelligence issues for sustainability projects. Sustainability,
10(2), 335.
Murugesan, M., & Karthikeyan, K. (2016). Business intelligence market trends and growth in
enterprise business. International Journal on Recent and Innovation Trends in
Computing and Communication, 4(3), 188-192.
Peters, M. D., Wieder, B., Sutton, S. G., & Wakefield, J. (2016). Business intelligence
systems use in performance measurement capabilities: Implications for enhanced
competitive advantage. International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, 21,
1-17.
Popovič, A., Puklavec, B., & Oliveira, T. (2019). Justifying business intelligence systems
adoption in SMEs: Impact of systems use on firm performance. Industrial
Management & Data Systems, 119(1), 210-228.
Trieu, V. H. (2017). Getting value from Business Intelligence systems: A review and research
agenda. Decision Support Systems, 93, 111-124.
Writer, S. (2020). Be Netflix Intelligent to Grow your Business. Stop Shooting in the Dark!.
Retrieved 10 January 2020, from https://evontech.com/component/easyblog/why-is-
netflix-s-business-intelligence-the-future-of-sales-and-marketing.html?Itemid=159

8BI SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT REFLECTIVE REPORT
Yeoh, W., & Popovič, A. (2016). Extending the understanding of critical success factors for
implementing business intelligence systems. Journal of the Association for
Information Science and Technology, 67(1), 134-147.

9BI SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT REFLECTIVE REPORT
Appendix 1: Learning log
 By the help of DWS class and lab session, I have come across the vital things for
business intelligence (BI). I have understood the important things which should be
taken into account for decision with respect to business.
 For the very first DWS lecture to the final one, I went through a number of steps that
are required for making the best kind of BI system.
 Feasibility of the report which provides the view that should be taken into starting of
any project.
 IS/IB system development approaches which are discussed about client and
architecture, when the client wants to build a building. Client can ask the architecture
to build the building for him. This merely addresses the architecture to find what the
client wants.
 Infrastructure concepts are discussed when I want to talk about both technical and
non-technical infrastructure in BI systems. Technical systems are completely based on
middle aspects like hardware and DBMS. On the contrary, non-technical
infrastructure are the rules and regulation for the given business.
 Dashboard design are nothing but visual display that has some information available
on the screen. I have come across some few ideas like what type of dashboard are
needed for BI system. In addition, I have discussed how the dashboards are found to
be important in BI system. They are merely used by the firm to see the whole part of
the report available on the screen. It merely provides the option where the individual
can have all information at single glance.

10BI SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT REFLECTIVE REPORT
 A discussion has been carried out on meta-data that is the kind of meta-data which is
found to be vital. I have discussed the point that data needs to be single place or
scattered thoroughly.
 DWS lecture completely clarifies different aspects of BI system from the viewpoint of
feasibility report of IS system. The approach is completely related to both technical
and non-technical infrastructure for the given BI System.
 The dashboard design are discussed as per the few concepts that provides the visual
display for list of vital information on single screen platform. It merely highlights the
point that all the required information are needed to be seen.
IMAT5166 Fundamentals of BI System
Development Worksheet
DWS No. 1
Date of DWS: 26th of 2017
P No: p16229392
Task Description
The first task that is being given was to brainstorm in the group of people and carry
out a feasibility report on this trip. I might come up with a plan with ex-schools colleagues
whom I haven’t met for long.
Purpose
I was literately asked to complete the task in a group so that I can have a much better
understanding of assessment feasibility. In addition, it will help me in understanding different
problem which are required to be taken into account. Feasibility report help us in

11BI SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT REFLECTIVE REPORT
understanding the point whether a project is enough worthy to be executed or not. Feasibility
report is not generally seen but help us in taking the right decision if the individual can take it
to further or not.
If my opinion is taken into consideration then I would need to come up with complete
understanding of the trip planning. In my own aspect, there are list of things which should be
taken into account before starting any new thing or planning it. The task is very much helpful
in carrying out check on list of things that is needed to be considered before planning any trip
with anyone. A proper discussion has been carried out with group members who are required
to be taken into account before starting off any trip like planning and availability. It merely
focus on the fact how I will group them up.
Reflection on task
In this particular task, I have come across the importance of feasibility report. I have
complete understanding about list of things which should be taken into account before
planning. But now, I have a clear viewpoint regarding the feasibility of the report. This
merely addresses the fact that how important this is regarding the decision which should be
made.
I have interacted with many people whom I do not known. I was able to share my
viewpoint or ideas followed by listening them.
I am very much bad at planning in most of the things but due to this task I can easily
plan most of the things in a way that it is quite helpful. I would like to plan my BI system and
go through the feasibility report followed by planning it. So, it becomes very much easy for
writing down the BI system for any organization.

12BI SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT REFLECTIVE REPORT
DWS No.: 2
Date of DWS: 9th Nov 2017
P No: P16229392
Task Description
Provide a concise summary of the tasks undertaken within the DWS.
In DWS task 2, I would like discuss both client and architecture viewpoint. This was
given a jigsaw for arranging it as per the given waterfall method.
Purpose
Explain in your own words why you think you were asked to do the DWS tasks.
This particular task was due to fact that individual can have an idea regarding how
architecture can fulfil the need of client. It merely addresses the list of point which should be
taken into account for building as per the given requirements of different client need. An
understanding has been given with respect to point how the project plan works. I basically
come up from a statistical background so I does not an idea regarding the working of
business. So, this particular task has helped in understanding the client need and fulfilling
their need. In addition, this also highlights the client proposal which needs to be taken into
account.
Task Reflection
What do you think you have learnt from undertaking the DWS tasks? List each aspect
of learning you have encountered when doing one or more of the tasks, clearly stating the
evidence of that learning (e.g., what has changed due to this learning, what you
understand/can do after learning and didn’t understand/couldn’t do before learning, any

13BI SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT REFLECTIVE REPORT
impacts this change will have on your future actions.). Cover both learning about BI systems
development and learning of a more general nature.
I do not have a business background, so I am completely aware about list of things
needed to be done. Considering the planning and IS development which is regarding this task
that I have come across to have complete understand regarding what it is and how does it
work. Colour scheme in the jigsaw states the reason behind it and responsibilities of the
project manager. This merely address ETL developers, BI infrastructure, and business
representative at the time of project development. This is not the work of a single person but
this requires lot of people and software who are behind this. It merely states satisfying project
and perfect one that is shown to client. Also, during DWS 2, I have come across the use of
the waterfall model by which architecture can find the need of the client. This is mainly done
so that he can deliver the different requirements of client. This not stands out to be waterfall
approach but stands out to be universal approach. The phased approach where an individual
can learn can segment it into mini-projects. This is mainly done so that they can easily have
an access and even work on them. Considering the case of IS development, I am able to
discuss both Moss and atre development where there is core team who is present through the
whole project. This can be called up any instance which comprises of project manager and
different business representatives. The extended time which comes and go is not generally
available as it come up with commitment. It is merely for steering committee which is known
to be BI arbitration that works for resolving most of the issues. This merely takes place if
there is some issues regarding decision making but in some cases board look for project. It
will ultimately force the project to be completely under the pressure and even cause trouble
for project instead of solving this.

14BI SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT REFLECTIVE REPORT
DWS No.: 5
Date of DWS: 23rd Nov 2017
P No: P16229392
Task Description
The task is completely related to have some basic understanding regarding the
infrastructure. It merely highlights the kind of infrastructure which is present there. A suitable
case study is provided for the task that highlights the kind of infrastructure which comprises
of both that is technical and non-technical.
Purpose
The main purpose is all about having complete understanding of the infrastructure that
comprises of both technical and non-technical view point. This is merely highlights the point
that both the technical and non-technical point of the project are given. A proper
infrastructure is very much helpful in stabilizing the given project.
Task Reflection
I have come across both kind of infrastructure that is technical and non-technical that
has not been studied earlier. Technical infrastructure is completely based on certain tools like
DBMS. Application tools are basically nuts and bolts needed for project evaluation. This
merely works either in the front and back part of the project. Middleware completely comes
under the technical infrastructure that helps in getting the data which is to be glued in
together way.

15BI SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT REFLECTIVE REPORT
Non-technical is nothing but the business rules which comprises of certain standard
and policies, which is the way it is named. In BI system there is both technical data and
computerised data which has non-technical policies.
DWS No.: DWS 8
Date of DWS: 14th Dec 2017
P No: P16229392
Task Description
This particular task is regarding the discussion about Dashboard design on which it is
done. The dashboard is not good that addressed the dashboard design that can be used for.
Purpose
The main notion of this task so that I can have complete view regarding the dashboard
design and in the video, I saw some points of the dashboard design. How the design of the
dashboard should be done and what are some of the common mistakes which people face in
dashboard design.
Reflection of Task
I have learned that dashboard design is all about having complete visual display
which is required for satisfying the need of the user on a single screen platform. It requires to
have some vital information that can be noticed in a single glance. It is mainly done so that
user have the complete details which is required by them on the single screen.
I have also come across common mistake made by people at the instance of dashboard
design. Only a few people think that people try to highlight the dashboard and are generally

16BI SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT REFLECTIVE REPORT
distracted from the major reason for dashboard design. Some of the common mistakes which
the people make are
 Making use of wrong colour
 Range of dashboard design when the people are trying to show-off the design.
 One screen means huge amount of scrolling in the dashboard design.
 Making use of wrong paragraphs
 Making a choice of deficient measure
 Putting out the required information when it is not needed
 Encoding of qualitative data inaccurate way
 Not highlighting data when not required
 Making a choice of the deficient measure
 Last but not least, it needs to be attractive in nature.

17BI SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT REFLECTIVE REPORT
Appendix 2: How DWS helped in the first assignment
Significance of DWS
Development Workshop Session (DWS) can be defined as the type of session which
can be very much useful for the trainees to gain more expertise about any topic, project or
technology. It can be said that DWS can be very much inspiring to understand any type of
complex projects. There are numerous advantages related with DWS such as the
identification of new opportunities, trainees might feel very much motivated to work with
complex technologies, new skills can be identified in the first place using DWS, and new
ways of thinking can also be identified with the help of DWS.
DWS was very much useful as it provided a detailed description of the fundamental of
a BI system which has to be considered in the first place before incorporating a new BI in a
corporate environment. DWS was very much helpful to understand that the priorities must be
given to both the architects who will be designing the new BI system as well as the clients of
WALLMART who will be using the newly created system.
The significance of data collection was the other lesson which was learned from the
DWS, as it is very much important to understand what exact challenges are faced by the
employees working in the finance department of WALMART so that the functionality of the
BI system can be selected accordingly.
The significance of the computer based activities such as the identification of the
business requirements, importance of planning, analysis of the effectiveness of a new BI
system, significance of maintaining a user friendly design so that every stakeholder can
understand how to make the most out of the new BI system, and significance of deploying the

18BI SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT REFLECTIVE REPORT
new BI in accordance with the business operations were considered in the DWS and each of
these activities was very much useful in the previous assessment.
The other learning lesson which was useful in the previous assessment is
understanding the role of each of the stakeholders who can be involved in this projects such
as the project manager, ETL developer, business representative and BI infrastructure
architect.
The significance of maintaining a user friendly dashboard design was the other
learning lesson which was considered while working on the previous assignment. DWS was
also very much useful to understand the significance of Meta data to manage all the
information and the activities which will be done with the help of the new BI system. DWS
was helpful to understand how ER model diagram can be useful to design the new BI system.
At the same time, DWS provided a detailed description of ETL process logic and the
necessity of the training sessions.
What has changed due to this learning?
Issues is dashboard was identified from the discussion of the DWS. The business
impact of a poorly designed display of a new BI system was the other learning lesson from
the DWS. Based on the learning session it can be said that the encoding quantitative data
inaccurately can have a direct adverse effect on the net profitability of the business. The
session was very much significant to understand that the data which will be accessed with the
help of the BI system must be managed in an organized manner. Highlighting important data
is also considered as one of the most significant learning lesson from the DWS. The new BI
system must not have any sort of useless decorations as it can have an effect on the quality of
the BI system. The user interface of the system must be very much attractive as well, each of
these are discussed in DWS and were considered in the previous assessment.

19BI SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT REFLECTIVE REPORT
What you understand/can do after learning and didn’t understand/couldn’t do before
learning?
Based on my understanding of the DWS, I learned that the functional and the non-
functional features of the BI system must be according to the expertise and the IT skills of the
resources.
On the other hand there were few areas which is still a source of concern regarding
the implementation of the BI system in WALMART which is to manage the compatibility
issues of the new BI system with the other software which is there in the business
environment of WALMART.
Any impacts this change will have on your future actions
DWS was very much useful to understand the limitations of BI in terms of the huge
amount of data which is pulled off the system once a transaction has been completed,
muddling commercial settings and the huge amount of time required for implementing the
system. Thus, it can be said that every commercial establishment who is trying to incorporate
this technology must be have a strategic plan to address the risks coming from the limitations
of BI.
Learning lessons
Previously, I had believed that cost management and time management can be
avoided if the skill level of the IT experts is very much on the higher side in these kinds of
projects. However, I have understood the significance of each of these concepts after
attending the DWS. I have understood the significance of cost management and risk
management in this project as it can have a direct impact on the net profitability of the target
organization which is WALMART.

20BI SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT REFLECTIVE REPORT
DWS was very much useful as it provided a detailed description of the significance
of having an effective communication between all the project team members. From the
discussions of DWS, it can be understood that the role of the project manager is very much
significant regarding the installation of a BI system in a corporate business environment like
WALMART as there are diverse categories of issues related with this project in terms of the
management of tyime and cost in each phase of this project. Thus, it can be said that the
learning lessons from the DWS will be used in most of the projects where a technological
change is going to take place.
Academic reference(s)
BI system of Amazon: The behaviour and the expectations of the consumers were
understood by the strategic planners of Amazon Corporation when they installed a new BI
system in their business environment.
BI System of Netflix: The strategic planner of Netflix used diverse categories of data
models as well as business models to deal with the risks of these kinds of projects such as
cost and risk management.