ASSIGNMENT 1 BRIEF

Student Name/ID Number Nguyen Thai Tuan

Unit Number and Title 14: Business Intelligence
Academic Year 2021
Unit Tutor Ho Hai Van
Assignment Number & Assignment 1: Discover business process and BI technologies
Title
Issue Date
Submission Date
IV Name & Date

Submission Format
The submission is in the form of a 15-minutes Microsoft® PowerPoint® style presentation to be
presented to your colleagues. The presentation can include links to performance data with additional
speaker notes and a bibliography using the Harvard referencing system. The presentation slides for
the findings should be submitted with speaker notes as one copy. You are required to make effective
use of headings, bullet points and subsections, as appropriate. Your research should be referenced
using the Harvard referencing system. The recommended word limit is 500 words, including speaker
notes, although you will not be penalised for exceeding the total word limit.
Unit Learning Outcomes
LO1 Discuss business processes and the mechanisms used to support business decision-making.
LO2 Compare the tools and technologies associated with business intelligence functionality
Assignment Brief

Your company is currently working in [Assumed Domain] for 2 years. For a new, young
company, the competition in the market is very high. Therefore, the Board of Director has
decided to apply Business Intelligence to improve the company business process by making
better decisions.
The Board of Directors assigns a small group including you in Research & Development Department to
study business intelligence to apply for the company in the coming years.
You need to research about business processes and decision support processes in the company and
identify the types of data (unstructured, semi-structured or structured) generated by these processes
with examples. You also need to research about current software used in the business process or
decision support process and evaluate these usages (benefits and drawbacks).
Next you need to understand the types of support for decision-making at different levels (operational,
tactical and strategic) within the company and study which business intelligence features can help on
that types of support. Study the information systems or technologies (of BI) can be used in this case,
compare and contrast them to conclude which should be used.
Your group needs to present the research results to the board in a presentation of 15 minutes.
 Learning Outcomes and Assessment
Criteria

Pass Merit Distinction

LO1 Discuss business processes and the mechanisms used to support

business decision-making

P1 Examine, using examples, M1 Differentiate between D1 Evaluate the benefits

the terms ‘Business Process’ unstructured and semi-structured and drawbacks of using
and ‘Supporting Processes’. data within an organisation. application software as a
mechanism for business
processing.

LO2 Compare the tools and technologies associated with D2 Compare and contrast a
business intelligence functionality range of information
systems and technologies
P2 Compare the types of M2 Justify, with specific examples, that can be used to support
support available for business the key features of business organisations at operational,
decision-making at varying intelligence functionality. tactical and strategic levels.
levels within an organisation.
 Table of Contents

Table of Contents
ASSIGNMENT 1 BRIEF ................................................................................................................................................ 1
Introduction: .................................................................................................................................................................... 7
The report divided into two main point includes:......................................................................................................... 7
P1 EXAMINE, USING EXAMPLES, THE TERMS ‘BUSINESS PROCESS’ AND ‘SUPPORTING
PROCESSES’. .................................................................................................................................................................. 7
1. Introducing our team's data set: ...................................................................................................... 7
2. Data analysis: ................................................................................................................................. 8
3. The importance of data analysis in a business: ............................................................................... 9
4. My group has chosen an example: Brick-and-click retail “Superstore”: ........................................... 9
4.1. Business process:............................................................................................................................... 9
M1 Differentiate Between Unstructured And Semi-Structured Data Within An Organisation. ........................... 12
1. SEMI-Structured data:................................................................................................................... 12
2. Unstructured data: ........................................................................................................................ 12
3. Differences between Semi-structured, and Unstructured data: ...................................................... 12
D1 Evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of using application software as a mechanism for business processing.
......................................................................................................................................................................................... 14
P2 Compare The Types Of Support Available For Business Decision-Making At Varying Levels Within An
Organisation. .................................................................................................................................................................. 15
1. Decision Making:........................................................................................................................... 15
2. Strategic Decision: ........................................................................................................................ 17
2.1. Define: .......................................................................................................................................... 17
2.2. Characteristics/Features Of Strategic Decisions: .......................................................................... 18
3. Operation Decision: ...................................................................................................................... 18
4. Information System: ...................................................................................................................... 18
5. Compare Types Of Decision: ........................................................................................................ 22
M2 Justify, With Specific Examples, The Key Features Of Business Intelligence Functionality. .......................... 23
1. The most important business intelligence features include: ........................................................... 23
1.1. Pivot Tables: ................................................................................................................................. 23
1.2. Ad-Hoc Reports: ........................................................................................................................... 23
1.3. User-Specific Security: .................................................................................................................. 23
1.4. Open Integration: .......................................................................................................................... 23
1.5. Ranking Reports: .......................................................................................................................... 23
 1.6. What-If Analysis: ........................................................................................................................... 24
1.7. Executive Dashboards: ................................................................................................................. 24
1.8. Operational Reports: ..................................................................................................................... 24
1.9. Geospatial Mapping: ..................................................................................................................... 24
1.10. Interactive Reports: ....................................................................................................................... 24
2. Comparison of Range of information systems and technologies that can be used to support
organizations at operational, tactical, and strategic levels. .......................................................................... 24
3. For example, there is a three-level pyramid model based on the types of decisions at different
levels in the organization. ............................................................................................................................ 25
4. The main features of BI. ................................................................................................................ 27
4.1. Data Source: ................................................................................................................................. 27
4.2. Data Warehouse: .......................................................................................................................... 27
4.3. Integrating Server: ........................................................................................................................ 27
4.4. Analysis Server: ............................................................................................................................ 27
4.5. Reporting Server: .......................................................................................................................... 28
4.6. Data Mining: .................................................................................................................................. 28
4.7. Data Presentation: ........................................................................................................................ 28
5. Comparison of different kinds of information systems ................................................................... 28
5.1. Transaction process systems: ....................................................................................................... 28
5.2. Management information systems:................................................................................................ 28
5.3. Decision support systems: ............................................................................................................ 29
5.4. Executive information systems: ..................................................................................................... 29
5.5. Conclusion: ................................................................................................................................... 30
D2 Compare and contrast a range of information systems and technologies that can be used to support
organizations at operational, tactical, and strategic levels. ........................................................................................ 30
1. Compare Excel, tableau and Python matplolib: ............................................................................. 30
REFERENCES............................................................................................................................................................... 33

List of figures

Figure 1- The example for the term 'Business Processes'- Hospital Management flow .. Error! Bookmark
not defined.
Figure 2- The example for 'Supporting Processes'- The Hospital Manegement flow chart............... Error!
Bookmark not defined.
Figure 3-Decision Making ............................................................................................................................ 17
Figure 4-Strategic Decision ......................................................................................................................... 17
Figure 5-Pyramid Diagram of Organizational levels and information requirements. ............................... 19
Figure 6-Three level pyramid model based on the type of decisions taken at different levels in the
organization .................................................................................................................................................. 25
Figure 7-Five level pyramid model based on the processing requirement of different levels in the
organization .................................................................................................................................................. 26
Figure 8-Four level pyramid model based on the different levels of hierarchy in the organization ....... 26

List of tables
Table 1-Examples for the term ‘Business Processes’ and ‘Supporting processes’Examples for the term
‘Business Processes’ and ‘Supporting processes’ ...................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Table 2-Differences between Semi-structured, and Unstructured data .................................................... 12
Table 3- Compare unstructured data and Semi-structured data ............................................................... 13
Table 4-The different among three level of an organization. ..................................................................... 19
Table 5-Comparison Table ........................................................................................................................... 20
Table 6-Compare Excel, tableau and Python matplolib ............................................................................. 30
 ASSIGNMENT 1 ANSWERS
Introduction:
This report focuses on the results gathered through research on business intelligence. The report discusses
business processes and general decision-support processes, as well as evaluating the use of organizational
applications and data for these processes. In addition, the report shows results related to key features of
business intelligence and is attached to the comparison of types of decision-making aids at different levels
(operational, tactical and strategy), as well as the technology or system that makes it possible.

The report divided into two main point includes:

Discuss business processes and the mechanism used to support business decision-making
Compare the tools and technologies associated with business intelligence functionally

P1 EXAMINE, USING EXAMPLES, THE TERMS ‘BUSINESS PROCESS’ AND ‘SUPPORTING

PROCESSES’.
BUSINESS PROCESS:
1. Introducing our team's data set:
The dataset we selected was a dataset for a superstore, consisting of columns of information ranging from
quantitative values (sales, profits, etc.) to qualitative categories (locations, product name, product type, etc.).
Here I will show you how I got it:
Step 1: Start any browser for example Google, Microsoft Edge ...
Step 2: Search with keyword " Sample - Superstore Sales (Excel) .xls - Tableau Community "
Step 3: Select as shown in the picture

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Step 4: Download the data file.

This is where I get the dataset.

My data is used to discuss superstore. The data consists of tables: Row ID, Order ID, Order Date, Ship Date,
Ship Mode, Customer ID, Customer Name, Segment, Country/Region, City, State, Postal Code, Region,
Product ID, Category, Sub-Category, Product Name, Sales, Quantity, Discount, Profit.

2. Data analysis:

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To understand what data analysis is? First, let's explore a related concept, that of “Business Intelligence” (BI).
BI is the process and method of using data to help administrators make business decisions, BI is also a system
for collecting and analyzing data, presenting useful business information.

Data Analysis - Data analysis is known to be part of data science. Data analysis is a process of building
questions and problems based on sets of data and finding methods and algorithms to solve these problems,
the results of this process (method, algorithm) are used for taking decision-making in BI. In short, it is simply
understood that Data Analytics is a “subset” of BI.
3. The importance of data analysis in a business:
For many businesses, this process gradually plays a key role in the success or failure of the business. Because
analyzing and understanding the available data will help companies understand the mistakes of the past, find
solutions and uncover new business development opportunities. And instead of just making decisions based
on feelings or judgment, companies will have a very intuitive and scientific basis to make better decisions.
 Gain insight into the client.
 Access to potential business opportunities.
 Orientation to improve product quality.
 Build strong relationships with clients.
 Create a digital marketing campaign.
 Change, improve the products or services provided.
 Eliminate data security concerns.
 Support and increase employee productivity.
 Follow the competitors.
4. My group has chosen an example: Brick-and-click retail “Superstore”:
The dataset we selected was a dataset for a superstore, consisting of columns of information ranging from
quantitative values (sales, profits, etc.) to qualitative categories (locations, product name, product type, etc.).
With the aim of demonstrating different types of business, data, and decision making, we will choose our
scenario as a scenario of a real retail chain. This means that the stores have an online shopping function, but
are also physical stores that actually exist where customers can buy directly.
4.1. Business process:
In the following, our team describes the supermarket workflow to be used as a basis for further interpretation

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of the different data generated by tableau and matplotlib.

Figure 1-Online shopping user flow

Online ordering has been a booming market since 2016, and it essentially makes it easier to view goods,
increases purchasing power and makes purchasing easier for users. The goods and products that customers
want to buy will be selected in the online shopping cart, then added to the cart (list of selected products),
then verified for payment. However, in a system that responds to the user experience, the online shopping
process should allow many advances. The cart must be allowed to update in order to be able to purchase
more, as well as be verified at any time, and the option to search for specific items must be included in
addition to simple category navigation.

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 Figure 2-In-person activity flow

The diagram above illustrates the flow of activity in the live physical store (also known as brick-and-mortar).
This includes the entire process from parking and picking up the freight wagon before the customer enters
the building, to selecting goods, inspecting, paying, and packing. Note the additional pool which describes the
cashier's involvement in this process, the management of the bagging and invoicing sections. This
demonstrates that business processes can depend on other sub-processes or sub-processes, with resources
that are not directly placed on value-generating activities.
Along with the direct buying process, there is another process that can help support the business: collecting
data related to user movement (where the actual layout of the store people have moved into or even how
long they stayed. in certain positions). It can be something as simple as just looking at camera footage, to
track shoppers' routes by installing tracking equipment in a shopping cart. This data can then be aggregated
and reported to a location manager so they can make a decision on how to change the store layout to
optimize the user experience or guide customers to specific products.

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M1 Differentiate Between Unstructured And Semi-Structured Data Within An Organisation.
1. SEMI-Structured data:
Semi-structured data is material that does not exist in a relational database but that has certain
operational properties that make it easy to interpret. Through some method, you can store them in the
connection database (it may be very hard for some sort of semi-structured data), but Semi-structured
exist to ease space. Example: XML data.
 An example from our dataset is that of HTML and JavaScript files for the webpages in the
online store.

2. Unstructured data:
Unstructured data is data that isn't coordinated in a predefined way or doesn't have a predefined
information model, in this way it's anything but a solid match for a standard social data set. So for
Unstructured information, there are elective stages for putting away and overseeing, it is progressively
pervasive in IT frameworks and is utilized by associations in an assortment of business knowledge and
examination applications. Model: Word, PDF, Text, Media logs.
 An example in our dataset, video footage of the in-person store, or the log data of the tracking
devices in the carts.

3. Differences between Semi-structured, and Unstructured data:

Table 1-Differences between Semi-structured, and Unstructured data

Properties SEMI-Structured data Unstructured data

Technology It is based on It is based on character
XML/RDF(Resource and binary data
Description Framework).
Transaction Transaction is adapted No transaction
management from DBMS not matured management and no
concurrency
Version management Versioning over tuples or Versioned as a whole
graph is possible
Flexibility It is more flexible than It is more flexible and

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 structured data but less there is absence of
flexible than schema
unstructured data
Scalability It’s scaling is simpler It is more scalable.
than structured data
Robustness New technology, not
very spread

Query performance Queries over anonymous Only textual queries are

nodes are possible possible

Table 2- Compare unstructured data and Semi-structured data

Unstructured Semi-structured
Who Senior Managers Middle Managers
What Unstructured data is a data that is Semi-structured data is
which is not organized in a pre- information that does not reside in
defined manner or does not have a rational database but that have
a pre-defined data model, thus some organizational properties
it is not a that make it
good fit for a mainstream easier to analyze.
relational database
When Unstructured data, there are With some process, you can store
alternative platforms for storing them in the relation database (it
and managing, it is increasingly could be very hard for some kind
prevalent in IT systems and is used of semi-structured data), but Semi-
by organizations in a variety of structured exist to ease space.
business intelligence and analytics Example: XML data.
applications.
Example: Word, PDF, Text, Media
logs.
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Where Management-level system Strategic-level system
Why Why does unstructured data Why does unstructured data
matter? Since 80% of data that matter? Since:
organizations see and process Support for nested or hierarchical
daily is unstructured, businesses data often simplifies data models
must adapt to handle the representing complex relationships
increasing stores of unstructured between entities.
data. Support for lists of objects
simplifies data models by avoiding
messy translations of lists into a
relational data model.
How It extremely flexible and there is It is more flexible than structured
absence of schema. data but less than flexible than
unstructured data.

In a nutshell: all types of data can be generated or required for different operations just in this example,
including even the one that supports user movement tracking for store layout optimization. This shows the
importance of knowing the data in different aspects of a business, to be able to have data-driven insights and
to make better decisions.

D1 Evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of using application software as a mechanism for business
processing.
The Point-of-sale system, which involves barcode inspection and payment collection, is managed by the point-
of-sale (POS) system. They may also provide back-end management features like inventory management and
analytics. They perform sales, refunds, and other trades or transfers in general. This platform is primarily used
in restaurants and small brick-and-mortar companies, but it is still frequently used in retail.
In today's shopping world, POS devices use laptops, laptop computers, or smartphones with a card reader to
accept payments. Auxiliary hardware such as barcode scanners, cash drawers, and receipt printers can be
installed.
Some identifiable features of POS systems include:
Sales and Checkout: Employees will connect products to a sale using touchscreen entry or barcode scanning.

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Instant estimates of the net sale, reward points, coupons, and other discounts are made.
Credit-card and cash reconciliation: Apart from a credit card terminal and cash register setup, the POS
system seamlessly integrates credit card transactions to the checkout process, simplifying checkout processes
and accepting credit cards whenever a sale is produced.
Inventory management: POS systems support the development of stock-keeping unit (SKU) numbers, as well
as the storing of commodity data (supplier details, cost, stock, and so on), as well as the creation of barcodes.
Any models can also handle online orders by printing shipping labels and recording orders for curbside
collection. And if there is a need, sophisticated inventory management will predict commodity demand.
Customer relations management: Customer data may be developed, and provide contact information as
well as purchasing history and details. This is particularly useful for fine-tuning marketing strategies as well as
general sales managers. Knowing who buys so much of what goods on a daily basis are valuable knowledge
for marketing campaigns.
Reporting and Analytics: POS programs track revenue data such as loss leaders and bestsellers, and they can
be used to estimate the demand for certain categories so that personnel and supplies can be prepared and
changed ahead of time.
Multichannel Sales Centralization: Multichannel sales POS systems can sync in-store and online sales
operations in one unified system. Payments, transactions, clients, and product records can all be obtained
remotely with different degrees of approval based on the case.

P2 Compare The Types Of Support Available For Business Decision-Making At Varying Levels Within An
Organisation.
1. Decision Making:
1.1. Introduce:

Decision making is an integral part of modern management. Basically, rational or rational

decision making is considered the main function of management. Each manager receives
hundreds and hundreds of subconscious or conscious decisions making it a major component
of the manager's role. Decisions are important because they determine both organization and
management. A decision can be defined as a deliberate action process from a set of
alternatives to achieving the organization's or management's goals or objectives. The
decision-making process is a continuous and indispensable component in managing any
organization or business. Decisions are made to maintain the activities of all business activities
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 and organizational activities.
Decisions are made at all levels of management to ensure the organization or business
goals are met. Moreover, decisions make up one of the core functional values that every
organization applies and implements to ensure optimal growth and the ability to drive
vehicles and services offered.
Thus, the decision-making process can be further illustrated in the context of the following
definitions.

1.2. Define:

According to Oxford Advanced Learner Dictionary, the term decision making means - the
process of deciding on something important, especially in a group of people or in an
organization.
Trewartha & Newport defines the decision-making process as follows: Decision-making
involves selecting an action process among two or more possible alternatives to giving a
solution to a given problem.

Evidence is the pre-defined definition, the decision-making process is an advisory issue made
by a group of experts to promote the better performance of any organization. Therefore, this
is a continuous and dynamic activity that covers all other organization- related activities.
Since it is an ongoing activity, the decision-making process plays an important role in an
organization's operations. Because intelligence is involved in decision- making, it requires
solid scientific knowledge along with skills and experiences besides mental maturity.
Moreover, the decision-making process can be considered as a checking and balancing system
that helps organizations develop both in vertical and linear directions. It means the decision-
making process of finding a goal. The goals are the established business goals, the company's
tasks, and its vision. To achieve these goals, the company may face many obstacles in the
areas of administration, operations, marketing, and operations. Such issues are arranged
through a comprehensive decision-making process. No decision is finished because new issues
can be developed to solve. When a problem is solved, another problem will arise, so the
decision-making process, as stated earlier, is a continuum and a dynamic.

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 Figure 3-Decision Making

2. Strategic Decision:
2.1. Define:

Strategic decision-making is the process of charting a course based on long-term goals and
long-term vision. By clarifying the goals of your company's big picture, you will have the
opportunity to adjust your short-term plans with this broader mission - to give your
operations clarity and consistency.

Figure 4-Strategic Decision

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2.2. Characteristics/Features Of Strategic Decisions:

Strategic decisions have great resource suggestions for an organization. These decisions may
involve owning new resources, organizing others, or reallocating others.
Strategic decisions deal with harmonizing the organization's resource capabilities with threats
and opportunities.
Strategic decisions to deal with the scope of the organization's activities. It's all about what they
want to organize like that and get back.
Strategic decisions involve a change of the main type since an organization operates in an ever-
changing environment.
Strategic decisions are very complex in nature.

Strategic decisions at the highest level, uncertain when they deal with the future and involve
a lot of risks.

Strategic decisions differ from administrative and operational decisions. Administrative

decisions are common decisions to help or instead facilitate strategic decisions or
operational decisions. Operation decisions are technical decisions that help make strategic
decisions. To reduce costs is a strategic decision achieved by deciding to reduce the number
of employees and how we make these reductions will be administrative decisions.

3. Operation Decision:
Operation decisions or executive decisions are decisions made to manage daily tasks. Any
company involved in any kind of business faces 100 decisions that they have to make in a day.
These things will be mundane as they fill up with cooling water, causing stress like completing
customer orders within minutes.
Of course, operational decisions must be taken care of by a manager in charge of activities.
However, it is not as easy as it sounds because the amount of activity can be noticeable. On any
normal day, McDonald's sells 75 burgers a second, equivalent to 64 million burgers a day
worldwide. What about the number of simple operational decisions, if not done properly, can
destroy the customer experience when visiting McDonald's stores.

4. Information System:
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 Figure 5-Pyramid Diagram of Organizational levels and information requirements.

Figure 5, shown the various levels of a typical organization, basic on this pyramid diagram to compare the
difference (includes: factor, task, type of a decision, support) of three main levels of business organization, we
collected the results shown as the following table:
Table 3-The different among three level of an organization.

Operational Tactical management: Strategic management

management
Factor Employee: cashiers at a Middle-level managers, Most senior level in an
point of sale, bank tellers, heads of departments, organization, director
nurses in a hospital, supervisors, etc.
customer care staff, etc.
Task conduct daily business Control the operation of Long-term planning for
transactions the operating level organizations
Type of decision Structured decisions Semi-structured decisions Unstructured decisions
Support Based on rules and Based on instructions or Based on information
guidelines (summarized judgment calls from tactical
from raw materials and management and
business experience) external data

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 Figure 6- Types of information system.

According to Figure 6, we give the following comparison table:

Table 4-Comparison Table

Transaction Management Decision Expert system Executive

Processing Information Support System (ES) Information
System (TPS) System (MIS) (DSS) System(EIS)
User Operational Tactical Strategic Strategic Strategic
management managers management management, management
human experts
Task Record day to Monitor the Provide Use artificial Facilitate,
day business organization's solutions to intelligence support
transactions of current problems that techniques to information to
the performance are unique and solve common make decisions.
organization. status. change problems.
frequently.
Decision Structured data, Semistructured Support of semi There is no Support
highly decision. structured and substitute effect, information and
structured and unstructured only nature decisionmaking
routine. decisions supports process.
(structured professionals.
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 decisions can
be automated).
Handling Manage Routine Sophisticated Humancontrolled Encapsulate
operations algorithms mathematical computer company data
using (aggregate, models, systems or and provide
information and compare and statistical programs. sales
process them. summarizes the techniques performance or
results). (probability, statistics tables.
predictive
modeling, etc.).
Input Information Information Internal Rules and data Company data,
about daily from output of systems from an expert sales
transactions. TPS. (transaction or through open performance,
processing questions. market research
systems, statistics.
management
information
systems),
external
systems.
Output The information Report Solutions are Format to display Information
is very detailed. (information) interactive. in computers to inside and
(Input of MIS). for tactical be used (support outside the
managers use for humans). company meets
to monitor, the
control and organization's
predict future strategic
performance objectives.
(make the
structured

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 decision).

5. Compare Types Of Decision:

Table 1 - Compare Types of Decision

Operational or Routine
Strategic Decisions Tactical Decisions Decisions

Strategic Decisions are usually Tactical Decisions are more Operational or Routine Decisions
infrequent e.g. annually but frequent e.g. weekly, are usually very frequent e.g.
can have a huge impact on monthly. Examples would hourly, daily but can have a
the organization. For example be: lesser impact on the
 Select a Market  Change product organization. For example
pricing  How to answer a sales
 Acquire a Company
 Reschedule work inquiry
 Recruit additional
 Approve a quotation
 Reorganize a
staff
department  Approve an Invoice
The data used to drive these
The impact of these types of
types of decisions is usually The data used to drive this
decisions is of a medium
found external to the decision type is usually
nature in terms of risk to the
organization. e.g. market prescribed or defined in the
organization and impact on
research reports, press procedures and rules of the
profitability.
releases organization.
The data used to drive this
type of decision is usually
found in summaries of
routine transactions e.g.
sales orders from the next
level of classification.

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M2 Justify, With Specific Examples, The Key Features Of Business Intelligence Functionality.
Different organizations will invest in business intelligence (BI) solutions for different reasons depending on
their specific circumstances and industry.
Here's my recommended list of 10 key features of business intelligence tools that will help any organization
improve its business strategy.
Key Business Intelligence Features
1. The most important business intelligence features include:
1.1. Pivot Tables:
Pivot tables can automatically extract significant features from a large, messy set of data. They can perform
calculations such as sorting, counting, or averaging the data stored in one table and show the summarized
results in another table. Pivot tables are essential tools for analyzing information and uncovering hidden
trends.
1.2. Ad-Hoc Reports:
Instead of burdening your IT department with requests for detailed reports, ad-hoc reports are one of several
important features of BI that let your nontechnical end-users generate their own reports on the fly. Users can
pick and choose the elements that they wish to be included in the report, emphasizing only those aspects that
are relevant to their query.
1.3. User-Specific Security:
If you need to restrict certain users’ access to particular data sets, your BI tool should allow you to personalize
your BI features and applications to individuals or groups of users. Some solutions provide user-specific data
sources, where a single application pulls from different sources of data depending on who’s using the
application.
1.4. Open Integration:
Smart BI platforms will be able to access not only your organization’s own data but information from email,
social media, websites and more. For example, instead of only providing your internal sales data, your BI
platform could accompany that information with reviews and comments about your products.
1.5. Ranking Reports:
Ranking reports let you easily view the best- and worst-performing facets of your business, from products to
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 marketing campaigns to salespeople. You can view rankings across multiple dimensions and specify various
criteria to focus your results.
1.6. What-If Analysis:
If you’re curious about how a future decision will affect your business, you can run a “what-if” analysis using
past data to predict the potential impacts. Tools for what-if analyses give you an objective view of the risks
and rewards involved in each potential decision and allow you to plan better for the future.
1.7. Executive Dashboards:
Executive dashboards give your organization’s leaders a real-time overview of your business in the form of
graphs, charts, summaries, and other information reports. They allow your company’s executives to make
smarter, faster, and better decisions.
1.8. Operational Reports:
At the end of each day, business intelligence features like these can provide your organization’s executives
with a detailed summary of the daily events, giving them the information they need to make critical decisions.
1.9. Geospatial Mapping:
Applications using location intelligence can take your information and transform it into graphical and
cartographic representations, simplifying your geographical data. At a glance, judging which regions are
performing better than others — and which ones need particular attention — becomes much easier.
1.10. Interactive Reports:
Interactive reports allow users to condense the massive amounts of collected data into a wide variety of
possible views. Users can take advantage of features like statistical analysis and regression to identify trends,
anomalies, and outliers in the data.
2. Comparison of Range of information systems and technologies that can be used to support organizations
at operational, tactical, and strategic levels.
A decision support system (DSS) is a computer programmed application that analyzes business data and
presents it so that users can make business decisions more easily. It is an “informational application” to
distinguish it from an operational application that collects the data in the course of normal business
operation.
Now as a comparison I would like to give a simple example of the tactical, operational, and strategic levels of
perception.
Tactical level – let's offer a 20% discount to get more sales this month. (a tactical decision is made in isolation;

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 it is short term focused and does not take into account the overall business or other factors)
Operational level- let's offer a 20% discount that we can offer via email, implemented via a discount code to
be redeemed online and barcode and promo code that can be used in our stores, scanned at the point of sale.
Let’s allow customers to use the discount many times over the course of the month, so a unique code is not
needed. (operational decisions explain how things work, dependencies, details, process, and implementation)
Strategic level- we wanted to offer a discount, but we are selling a premium brand. While a discount may
bring in customers this month, it will erode the value of our brand. Instead, we should be doing marketing
that promotes the quality and uniqueness of our products.
(A strategic decision is connected to multiple tactical decisions that work together to support the higher
corporate strategy, not in isolation).
3. For example, there is a three-level pyramid model based on the types of decisions at different levels in the
organization.

Figure 6-Three level pyramid model based on the type of decisions taken at different levels in
the organization

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Figure 7-Five level pyramid model based on the processing requirement of different levels in the
organization

Figure 8-Four level pyramid model based on the different levels of hierarchy in the organization
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 4. The main features of BI.

Figure 9-The main features of BI.

4.1. Data Source:

As a raw database (usually a relational database) from various sources such as business applications such as
Human Resource Management (HRM), Customer relationship management (CRM), sales software,
commercial websites electronic… Can be any database management system like MySQL, Oracle, MSSQL, DB2,
... 29 Often designed according to relational database model but also can be big data, non-relational data
(such as social networks, NoSQL)
4.2. Data Warehouse:
As the database is designed in a different model from the usual Transaction Processing (OLTP is the design of
the Database for regular reading and writing, the amount of data for each reading is low) and the data
storage site long-term data of the organization. DWH data can only be read, not used to record or update by
normal applications, it is only updated / written by ETL (Extract Transform Load) tool, which converts data
from Data Sources into Data Warehouse.
4.3. Integrating Server:
Responsible for operating the ETL tool to convert data from Data Sources to Data Warehouse
4.4. Analysis Server:
Responsible for executing blocks designed based on data dimensions and professional knowledge Cube is
responsible for receiving input from DWH and executing according to the predefined business to return the

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result.
4.5. Reporting Server:
Execute reports with output received from Analysis Server. Where administrators centralize web-based
reports, these reports can be attached to web applications, or applications
4.6. Data Mining:
It is the process of extracting processed data information (in accordance with the specific requirements of the
business) from the Data Warehouse and then combining it with algorithms to make (or predict) decisions that
are conducive to the economic business. This is an important process in BI, usually a business wants to use
the BI solution often attached to Data Mining.
4.7. Data Presentation:
Create reports and graphs from the data mining process to serve the needs of end users
5. Comparison of different kinds of information systems
Using the four-level pyramid model, we can now compare how the information system in our model vary
from each other.
5.1. Transaction process systems:
Transaction processing systems are operational-level systems at the bottom of the pyramid.
They are usually operated directly by shop floor workers or front-line staff which provide the key
data required to support the management of the operations.
Inputs Processing Outputs
Transactions Validation Lists
Events Sorting Detail reports
Listing Action reports
Merging Summary reports
Updating
Calculation

5.2. Management information systems:

For historical reasons, many of the different types of Information Systems found in commercial
organizations are referred to as "Management Information Systems". However, within our
pyramid model, Management Information Systems are management-level systems that are used

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 by middle managers to help ensure the smooth running of the organization in the short to
medium term.
Inputs Processing Outputs
Internal transactions Sorting Summary reports
Internal files Merging Action reports
Structured data Summarizing Detailed reports

5.3. Decision support systems:

A Decision Support System can be seen as a knowledge-based system, used by senior managers,
which facilitates the creation of knowledge and allow its integration into the organization. These
systems are often used to analyze existing structured information and allow managers to project
the potential effects of their decisions into the future. Such systems are usually interactive and
are used to solve ill-structured problems. They offer access to databases, analytical tools, allow
"what if" simulations, and may support the exchange of information within the organization.
Inputs Processing Outputs
Internal transactions Modelling Summary reports
Internal files Simulation Forecasts
External information Analysis Graphs/posts
Summarizing

5.4. Executive information systems:

Executive Information Systems are strategic-level information systems that are found at the top
of the Pyramid. They help executives and senior managers analyze the environment in which the
organization operates, identify long-term trends, and plan appropriate courses of action. The
information in such systems is often weakly structured and comes from both internal and
external sources. Executive Information System is designed to be operated directly by executives
without the need for intermediaries and easily tailored to the preferences of the individual using
them.

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 Inputs Processing Outputs
External data Summarizing Summary reports
Internal files Simulation Forecasts
Pre-defined models “Drilling Down” Graphs/plots

5.5. Conclusion:
According to the requirement, each organization needs the kinds of support available for their
company's business decision-making. I have listed three forms of support provided here:
strategic, logistical, and organizational. I have also elaborated on the key features of the business
intelligence functionality after discussing the supports available where I have explained several
points and also abstracted them to make them understandable.Finally, I defined the range of
information systems and technologies that can be used to support organizations where I have
gone with the pyramid model at operational, tactical, and strategic levels, and also presented
the comparison with the help of the pyramid model in graphical view, which is also the
significant technology that can be used to support organizations at different levels. I hope my
submitted work will be able to meet the scenario's specifications. If not, in order to make more
improvements, suggestions would be genuinely respected and acknowledged.

D2 Compare and contrast a range of information systems and technologies that can be used to support
organizations at operational, tactical, and strategic levels.
1. Compare Excel, tableau and Python matplolib:
Table 5-Compare Excel, tableau and Python matplolib

Excel Tableau Python matplolib

Cost Low Cost Most costly Virtually free
Capability Limited by some of the Supports many forms of charts Virtually limitless
functions available and dataset formats. Allows for Can do anything the other two
there. versioning (as of 9.3). can do
Cannot handle too much There is integration with other Can easily integrate onto web
data or huge amounts of Microsoft products like Power applications
data Apps, Dynamics 365, Office Can be used to develop

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 365, and Microsoft Flow, which machine learning/AI
uses Single Sign-On (SSO). implementations for business
intelligence
Ease of Use Processing of basic steps Also easy to use, but slightly Most difficult to learn and use
is fast. more complex with more Is used to make applications,
Simple user interface. functionality which take even longer time
Well-documented Also has learning resources, but
learning resources. takes more time to learn

Nowadays, companies of large corporations are using business intelligence tools, the most popular of which I
mentioned are Excel, Tableau, Python library from Matplotlib. In this section, we're going to compare them,
that comparison based on the aspect of royalty cost, availability, and ease of use.
In terms of cost, there is no need to argue that Python's Matplotlib is ahead because it is free to use, it is open
source. Number two is definitely Excel because it is developed by Microsoft, if you work in education it is
totally free, if you use it for business the price is reasonable because it is a software. Standard offices in most
organizations. Ultimately, Tableau is the most expensive of the three along with Tableau Creator, costing over
$ 70 per month. This is to be expected, as Tableau is a well-designed and highly documented tool and even
offers various deployment services.
In terms of capabilities, Excel was the popular human tool for analyzing and storing data most of the time
before the development of specialized business intelligence tools.
That said, Excel is much more limited than Tableau's powerful capabilities, not only supporting a wide variety
of data formats (with integration with other Microsoft products such as Power Apps, Dynamics 365, Office
365, and Microsoft Flow, using single sign-on (SSO).), it also allows types of charts, graphs and other
visualizations (for example, location-based plotting), besides processing a large amount of data
After comparing Excel, Tableau and Python matplolib, we see all the strengths and weaknesses of each tool.
For a large-scale business to function well, it is imperative to have a dedicated team of information systems
and technologies to support the business at the operational, tactical and strategic levels.
In contrast, Python's Matplotlib is virtually undefined in terms of functionality, limited only by user design and
implementation.
Ultimately, when it comes to ease of use, Excel is probably the easiest tool to learn and use. The user-friendly
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interface and features are designed for backward compatibility, as is the case with many Microsoft products,
so even older users who are outdated with newer versions can still use it. New learners, however, are safe
because Microsoft products are well documented, so training in their use shouldn't take too long. Likewise,
Tableau's interface is also easy to use, and it also has learning resources (supposedly better for beginners
than Microsoft's documents), although slightly more complicated due to the features that are specialized and
extensive. and therefore take longer to start learning. Ultimately, Python Matplotlib is the most inaccessible,
as it requires basic programming knowledge, as well as familiarity with Python and with the library itself.
In the company should have a team specializing in Excel, to solve small data analysis problems quickly and
efficiently.
The Business Analyst II team specializes in using Tableau to analyze data such as: big data entry, metadata
management, simple query manipulation. Build business dashboards from simple to complex, manage activity
data (Data Stories), simulate and analyze data, analyze over time, share, connect via online applications.
When there is more complex data beyond the reach of Excel and Tableau, it is necessary to have the team of
data engineers whose job it is to use Python to transform difficult operations so that people who only know
how to use Excel or Tableau to analyze data. Additionally, using Python allows data engineers to edit data and
column-split variables and link them together, which Tableau and Excel cannot do.
Summary, Python can do what Excel and Tableau can do with enormous resources, but depending on the
specific situation the business is facing, we need to choose the most optimal tool to perform the data
analysis.

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