Hope everyone is doing well out there. A good friend of mine across the pond mentioned that he has started to read a lot of my content across the blogs, my SQL Magazine Articles/BI Column, etc. His feedback was excellent and relates to a general perception issue with the field of BI. "They are highly technology based" was his comment in so many words...

First a few clarifications are in order, writing for SQL Magazine means you will be discussing the actual data platform called SQL Server at some length. This blog and other places though I could write more BI neurtral content. And thus I have created a new post category called "Business Intelligence Nuggets" (which this post is the first in).

The perception issue is that Business Intelligence is all about technology! Business Intelligence is 100% about business, THE TOOLS ARE SIMPLY ENABLERS. A well thought out dimensional model will work well on any database platform. A solid ETL design will run great on any ETL platform it is implemented in. The larger point is, a great BI architect will be good  (and thus his designs) on any platform or toolset.

There are layers to any BI solution nomatter how or what it is constructed of. First is the Business and it's logic/requirements. Second, is design and methodologies...the words Kimball & Inmon come to mind. Third, are the tools...in my case SQL Server, Analysis Services, Reporting Services, and Integration Services.

Tools (SQL Server etc.)

Design (Design Patterns, Best Practices, & Methodologies)

Business Requirements (What needs to be measured?)