Business Intelligence Reflective Essay: Analysis and Insights

This reflective essay critically examines the integration of structured and unstructured data in Business Intelligence (BI), as discussed in the article by Baars & Kemper (2008). The author agrees with the argument that integrating components for handling both data types is beneficial for data analytics. The essay explores the importance of data warehousing and data mining for effective decision-making. While agreeing with the authors' points, the essay also identifies potential issues like the need for integrated systems, the role of experts, evolving regulations, and data security concerns, particularly with cloud-based infrastructure. The essay references the work of Chen, Chiang, & Storey (2012), Hočevar & Jaklič (2010), Isik et al. (2013), Laney (2012), Sabherwal & Becerra-Fernandez (2012), Vercellis (2011) and Zeng, Li, & Duan (2012) to support the arguments, and highlights the importance of data in business processes, the multilayer framework, and the use of BI tools for complex analysis. The essay concludes by emphasizing the need for properly structured and reliable data for effective decision-making in sensitive business processes.

Running Head: Business Intelligence 0
Business Intelligence
Reflective Essay
Student name

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Reflective essay on Business Intelligence
I strongly agreed with the author’s argument that integration of components for handling
unstructured and structured data is beneficial for data analytics in any business. I learnt from
(Baars & Kemper, 2008), that integration of unstructured data in a proper format to analysis and
transformation. It provided integration approaches that are necessary to collection of the
unstructured data from different sources. I leant that transformation of unstructured data in a
proper format, which is used to knowledge discovery. According to authors, it provided three
approaches, which are as:
1. Collection of structured and unstructured data and presented it in integrated content
2. Analysis of content collections
3. Provide analysis results and analysis templates to desired persons for decision making
I leant that all these approaches are best for decision-making and it has based on the data.
Therefore, it provides better analysis and decision-making.
Based on author’s point of view, it is necessary to take decisions for business based on
the data. It is not possible for a human to manage lots of data and analysis it in a proper way.
Therefore, data warehouse and data mining is used to provide help for business intelligence. It
can provide better decision-making from organization point of view. It is a huge process and cost
effective. However, cost of implementation of data warehouse and mining is beneficial for long-
term success of organisation.
In this article, it explains about the use of BI tools for data analysis, but I disagreed on
some points, which are so important for an organisation, which are as:
1. Company need multiple BI applications for data analytics and it is required full
integrated system
2. Availability may also be an issue in BI, as it require experts for managing their big
data in a proper way. Otherwise it provide wrong results, which is directly affects the
progress of an organization.

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3. Rule and regulations are evolving for business intelligence and it may be affects from
data breach. Therefore, it should have legal sanctions from government.
4. Implementation of cloud-based infrastructure for their BI application is required high
cost.
5. Data security is questionable, as most of the organizations are having their 20 percent
confidential data on cloud storages.
6. People can see different decisions from the analysis of same data. However, it is a
simple process but it is most difficult to take a decision.
I learnt that basic systems of an organization are used for data collections, such as CRM,
ERP, and many others. According to (Chen, Chiang, & Storey, 2012), big data is highly used in
Business Intelligence (BI). It makes strong impact on the decision-making in business processes
of an organization.
I leant about the multilayer framework, which is a best approach for extending business
and take a proper decision based on the analysis reports and analysis templates. Business
intelligence is a new concept of business that includes technology for Online Analytical
Processing (OLAP). I strongly agree with this architecture that data warehouse and data mining
is used for business intelligence. It is a proper way to use technology for management of the
business based on the data (Zeng, Li, & Duan, 2012).
According to (Hočevar & Jaklič, 2010), BI is an important part of a business because of
its benefits. It provides many benefits to organization in terms of growth, revenue, performance,
and many others. BI is highly is used in the business processes to make different capabilities for
organization (Isik, , Jones, & Sidorova, 2013).
I learnt that business intelligence tools have used for complex analysis of integrated data
and it generates different reports based on the requirements of the business analyst and data
analyst. There is an important role of data in decision-making, but it requires a proper structure
to analysis of that data. Decision-making process is required proper data. Therefore, it is
necessary that data is in proper format and collected from reliable sources. There are many
business processes, which are highly sensitive and cost effective, such as share marketing, sales,

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purchasing, and many others. According to (Laney, 2012), there are many reasons to adopt
business intelligence in business processes, as it provides many benefits to an organization
(Sabherwal & Becerra-Fernandez, 2012).
References
Chen, H., Chiang, R., & Storey, V. (2012). Business intelligence and analytics: from big data to
big impact. London: MIS quarterly.
Hočevar, B., & Jaklič, J. (2010). Assessing benefits of business intelligence systems–a case
study. Management: journal of contemporary management issues, 15(1), 87-119.
Isik, , O., Jones, M. C., & Sidorova, A. (2013). Business intelligence success: The roles of BI
capabilities and decision environments. Information & Management, 50(1), 13-23.
Laney, D. (2012, February 1). Ten Reasons to Reach Beyond Basic Business Intelligence.
Retrieved from www.gartner.com: https://www.gartner.com/doc/1911314/reasons-reach-
basic-business-intelligence
Mentz, J., Jooste, C., & Van Biljon, J. (2014). Usability evaluation for Business Intelligence
applications: a user support perspective . South African Computer Journal, 32-44.
Obeidat, M., North, M., Richardson, R., & Rattanak, I. (2015). Business intelligence technology,
applications, and trends. International Management Review, 11(2), 47-56.
Sabherwal, R., & Becerra-Fernandez, I. (2012). Business Intelligence: Practices, Technologies
and Management. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Turban, E., Sharda, R., & Delen, D. (2010). Decision Support and Business Intelligence Systems
. Google Scholar.

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Vercellis, C. (2011). Business intelligence: data mining and optimization for decision making.
New Jersy: John Wiley & Sons.
Zeng, L., Li, L., & Duan, L. (2012). Business intelligence in enterprise computing environment.
Information Technology and Management, 13(4), 297-310.