The challenge in doing this kind of analysis has often been with the technology. Technologists such as report developers are usually keen on SQL and their reporting tools. They know the ins and outs of relational databases, the different kinds of joins, and the concepts behind OLAP. They might or might not be so keen on the business and repercussions of certain trends. The opposite is most likely true for business analysts. The typical analyst knows what he wants to see or at least has a theory that he wants to collect data for to prove or disprove. Analysts might not know or care that to get a typical sales order, he must join six or seven tables together. Analysts are not technologists. What the analyst needs is a flexible, yet powerful tool to build his own reports and do his own analysis without overbearing technical terms. |