Presentation on how Business Intelligence projects may differ from conventional projects and tips on the Project Management approach to adopt when faced with the varying projects.

1. MANAGING BUSINESS
INTELLIGENCE PROJECTS
Prepared By: Richard Magu PMP®

2. What is Business Intelligence?
Business Intelligence is about:
The right information
At the right time
In the right format for the right
person

3. Are BI Projects Special ?
Are all projects Equal ?
Quadrant from article “One Size Does Not Fit All” By Robert Wysocki
MPx xPM
TPM APM
SOLUTION
GOAL
CLEAR
CLEARNOT
CLEAR
NOT CLEAR
MPx = Emertxe Project Management xPM = Extreme Project Management
TPM = Traditional Project Management APM = Agile Project Management

4. What Makes Them Special?
Enterprise Environmental Factors: Sectors and
Competing on Information
Scope : Big projects or incremental builds
Stakeholders: Business Or IT or Both

5. Handling The Difference
Is there a method to the madness ?
Where does your BI project fall in the Quadrant ?
MPx xPM
TPM APM
SOLUTION
GOAL
CLEAR
CLEARNOT
CLEAR
NOT CLEAR

6. Solution Not Clear Goal Not Clear
May Arise from the novel nature of BI or type of BI they want to undertake.
Case in point is the use of tools in a never before attempted architecture.
Extreme Project Management : Get a goal and a solution ASAP
Move it to Traditional Project Management and take it up from there
Areas to watch:
Stakeholder Management
Scope Management
Best to apply Extreme Project Management

7. Solution Clear Goal Not Clear
May have technology and have no clue how to use it for their BI needs
Looks dumb but is very real.
Aim is to get a Goal. Review project appraisal criteria and business case.
Areas to watch:
Scope Management Especially requirements gathering. 'If your only tool is
a hammer everything looks like a nail !'
Best to apply Emertxe Project Management

8. Solution Not Clear Goal is Clear
Smack where BI projects are. Challenge is getting the right tool for the job
Aim to get the best solution.
If PM for the customer, ensure procurement management is done well
Requirements are well articulated to service provider
If PM for service provider. Probe probe probe.
Get as much information as possible to facilitate management of scope and
stakeholder expectations.
Do not fear walking away for these can go sideways in a bad way !
Best to apply Agile Project Management

9. Solution is Clear Goals is clear
Nirvana! Rarely happens without plenty of background work.
Application of classical PM tools and techniques should result in success.
AIM should be to convert the prior project types to these so as to make
managing them better.
Best to apply Traditional Project Management

10. In Conclusion
Get your bearings, Fast !
Craft a Strategy
Realise the benefits and tell everyone about them !