Business intelligence (BI) is being transformed by technology and the almost unlimited availability of information that can now be accessed via the Internet. No longer is BI the domain of analysts and senior executives; in many organizations, front-line workers and other employees can now retrieve BI data via mobile devices for on-the-spot decision-making. The types of information and analysis used are changing dramatically too now that Web 3.0 technologies are generating vast quantities of unstructured semantic data, along with the increasing use of visualization methods, predictive analysis, and other cutting-edge techniques. As a result, the potential of BI for enhancing strategic decision-making and business performance is rapidly expanding. For many organizations, however, the ability to utilize the full potential of new forms of business intelligence will require a transformation of corporate culture, as well as organizational processes.
This article provides an overview of developments in new forms of business intelligence and describes an art and science of transformation framework recommended as essential preparation for a BI strategy. Use of this type of framework can help ensure that an organization has the right combination of “art” and “science” skills to achieve the cultural and process changes.