Apple Inc - Business Intelligence Systems - Case Study Example

BUSSINESS INTELLIGENCE Student’s name Course &Code Professor’s name University City Date Business Intelligence Part 2 Introduction Business intelligence systems integrates operational data with analytical instruments to offer complex information linked to a country or business. Evidently, its effectiveness is realised through planning and decision making. Whereas its broad integration has witnessed realsied benefits, it is imperative that organizations are well informed on preferred approaches (Negash, 2011). In effect, a business system is a set of tools, technologies, and programmed products that are used in the collection, integration and ensuring the availability of data (Koronios & Yeoh, 2011). As such business intelligent systems need to provide actionable information that has to be delivered at the correct time (Anderson et al., 2010). Consequently, the beginning point of coming up with a business intelligence system is identifying the most appropriate software to use (Lloyd, 2015). As a result, the Apple Inc. Opts to use the dashboards in dealing with data entry so as to aid in the decision making of the management based on business intelligence. The dashboards developed efficiently provide the relevant and required data for the company. However, there are various aspects that are related to dashboards that were used by the Apple Inc. (Chen et al., 2015; Airinei &Homocianu 2011). As such, this retrospect paper seeks to discuss the approaches taken in developing informed dashboards while addressing key challenges affecting its integration. Tentatively, the paper will discuss probable benefits linked to the incorporation of dashboards in decision-making processes. The Approach Taken on Information Inclusion on Dashboards Dashboards have become a standard business tool over the last decade. Consequently, dozens of dashboard building solutions have sprung up to meet the demand (Juice Inc., 2014). As in the case of Apple Inc, a definite approach was used in deciding what to information to be included in the dashboards. As such, the company resorted to a three-part approach guide in deciding on what to include in the dashboards (Apple Inc. 2015). Consequently, the three-part approach that was used ensured that the basic concepts and data about the company are sufficiently included hence simplifying the decision-making process. The approach had the following parts. Firstly, it had the foundation part (Castellanos et al., 2011). In this part, the purpose of filling the dashboard was considered. Apple Company considered specific products for a particular group of people. For instance information about a certain brand of a tablet based on the younger age was found in its place (Chen et al., 2015). On the value aspect of the dashboard, the company based its creation on the education aspect of its products and ways of achieving the set goals of the company. This significantly, helped in deciding on what to include in the dashboards (Chen et al., 2015). The type of the dashboard that the company settled on based on the ability to communicate the intended information clearly and concisely. Additionally, the channel, level of interactivity, the timelessness of data and analytical capabilities were the vital situations that were used by the company (Chen et al., 2015). Secondly, the company based on the structure in coming up with its dashboards (Juice Inc. 2014). The outward look of the dashboard was a fundamental aspect that the company based on deciding what to include in the dashboard. As such it based on three fundamental aspects of designing the structure (Juice Inc. 2014). It considered the format of the dashboard. In this regard, the company made the dashboard based on the conventional view that holds that the dashboard has to be on one page (Juice Inc. 2014). Consequently, the dashboard was formatted on one page, and it included all fundamental aspects. The structure was also designed basing on the design principles (Karim, 2012; Jaklic Popovic and Turk, 2010). The core goals of the company were outlined on the dashboard and adequately considered in designing it. The last aspect that was considered in deciding on what to include on the dashboard basing on its structure was the functionality aspect (Devenport, 2012). The features that were included on the dashboard were first sieved to ensure that they satisfy the functionality aspect of the dashboard. As a result, the information that was included on the dashboard had the ability to go from a summary metric or view to and additional detail which provided more contexts and the breakout of information about Apple Inc. Company (Chen et al., 2015). As such the structure was fully and properly developed and at the end it served the intended purpose. Evidently, it helped the management team in making informed decisions. Lastly, the company based on the information design in determining what to include on the dashboard (Juice Inc. 2014; Coman, Radu & Stefan, 2010). The information that was presented on the dashboard was balanced and included all the fundamental information about the company. Evidently, each data entry was given an opportunity basing on its importance. As such, there were no biases of any kind. The design based on the interface aspect in which the dashboards were designed as webs (Negash, 2011). Additionally, the information display used the visualization charts basing on their advanced visualization features. Consequently, the charts were very attractive to the audience (Juice Inc. 2014). The dashboards were, therefore, properly designed with the most relevant information included. In this regard, there was no omission of any vital information about the company. Concretively, the indented communication and other functions of the dashboard were broadly covered (Turban, Sharda, Aronson and King, 2010). The above approached aided in the often updating of the dashboard and making necessary data entry changes. The approach also deals with the technological challenges since it focuses on the modern technology in designing the dashboards (Juice Inc. 2014). Challenges in Developing Dashboards Despite their tremendous popularity and potential usefulness, many and perhaps most of the dashboards implementations fail miserably (Few & Edge, 2011). Essentially, the entire purpose of the dashboard is to communicate important information clearly, accurately, but most of these dashboards fail to play this aspect due to many challenges that are associated with the development of the dashboards (Jacklic et al., 2010). Consequently, some of the pitfalls of successful development of a dashboard include but not limited to i. exceeding the boundaries of a screen in which the whole information about the company is seen together ii. supplying inadequate context for data in which a problem arises in proper monitoring of the business activities in the company iii. displaying excessive detail or precision that makes it hard for quick maintenance and control and expressing measures indirectly in which the viewers needs are not justified (Few & Edge, 2011). Additional challenges in developing dashboards include i. introduction of meaningless variety, ii. use of poorly designed display media iii. encoding quantitative data inaccurately iv. poor arrangement of data, ineffectiveness in highlighting what is important and cluttering the screen with useless decoration (Few & Edge, 2011). Consequently, designing an effective dashboard requires an understanding of effective visual design. Furthermore, dashboard software needs to enable designers create a highly effective dashboards by providing the features and flexibility that allow the designers to apply their varied skilled acquired during their studies (Few & Edge, 2011; Nowell & Kleinberg, 2011). As such, the designers need to be aware of various challenges and develop strategies that counter such deficiencies. Advice on how the Organization would benefit from more BIA A BIA is a geographical area in a municipality as such a BIA board of management is an organization set up to provide certain business promotions and improvement strategies within a specified geographical area (Downtown Oshawa, 2015). In this regard, BIA allows local business people and property owners to come together with the support of the municipality and organize, finance and carry out physical improvement hence promoting economic development in that area (Protiviti, 2013). As a result, the main purposes of BIA are to revitalize and maintain a dynamic local neighborhood and promote business activities in that area (Downtown Oshawa, 2015). As such the main goal of revitalization and retention is to encourage both residents and other visitors to buy products manufactured in a specified local area. Therefore, the BIA is a significant aspect of any organization that has the desire to sell its products quickly. Essentially, revitalization and maintenance create a cleaner, safer and more congenial atmosphere that benefits all local business located at a specific place (Downtown Oshawa, 2015). It sufficiently benefits professional service firms whose clients can enjoy the local atmosphere during their activities such as trips. Therefore, it equally important for any company to use BIA in its services since the company shall be able to get the required profits due to high business activities triggered by the BIA. Despite the company’s location, the BIA shall ensure a serious business atmosphere in the company since it shall encourage local people to buy the products from the company. As such the organization need to encourage the residents to come together and also finance their meetings as this shall benefit the company since most of its products shall be bought. Recommendations for Simpler Implementation The BIA life cycle holds specific recommendations that need to be employed by organizations so as to ensure its continuity. As such the careful study of an individual businesses process and support functions, as well as the system of business processing entity, is a fundamental aspect (Potter, 2010; Davenport, 2010). To better well understand the objectives regarding continuity of operation an organization needs to base on the current data quality, government classifications and the general public perception about the Apple Inc products. Consequently, the organization needs to use specific strategies and approaches for implementing the BIA life cycle. It can consider; the Business Case for Business Continuity Management and the Relationship between the BIA and the Risk Assessment. Considering these aspects, the recommendations in the implementation aspect shall become very easy. Conclusion Business Intelligence Systems in business and organizations from all sectors have gained traction in offering critical insights from the structured data collected in various entry systems and commercially analyzed. Whereas its incorporation is imperative in improviong information analysis, some of the business intelligence systems are still hard to implement. In Apple Company’s case, for example, the dashboards might make a significant improvement in data entry and analysis leading to informed decision making but still there might be a challenge in the final implementation of the software. Complication arising from business intelligence systems should be significantly reduced, in the event that an organization seeks to effectively benefits from its inclusion. Reference List Airinei, D., &Homocianu, D (2011). Business Intelligence. Capstone Report DSS vss. Anderson, D., Fries, H., & Johansson, P. (2010).Business intelligence: The impact on decision support and decision making processes. Retrieved from . [on 15th June 2015] Chen, H. H, Chiang, R.HL & Storey, C.V (2014). Business Intelligence and Analytics: From Big Data to Big Impact. Business Intelligence Research. Vol. 36 No. 4, pp. 1 Castellanos, M., Dayal, U., Simitsis, A., & Wilkinson, K (2011).Data integration flows for business intelligence. Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Extending Database Technology: Advances in Database Technology, 1-11. Chen, C.J., & Huang, J.W (2007).How organizational climate and structure affect knowledge management -The social interaction perspective. 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