Latest Version “Language of Business Intelligence” Glossary (.pdf Acrobat e-paper download)

 Latest Version “Language of Business Intelligence” Glossary (.doc Microsoft Winword word file download)

Analysis involves the examination of complex Information in order to ascertain its constituent elements and to more easily understand its meaning. The fundamental forms of analysis are:

Deduction, Induction , Pattern recognition, and Trend analysis. See also: Intelligence analysis, Predictive analytics, Scenario analysis, Synthesis.

Analysis paralysis is a colloquial expression that implies that one’s decision-making ability is severely impaired by exposure to overwhelming volumes of Information; it is a symptom of Information fatigue syndrome . See also: Information overload.

Annotation is a note, usually added to a Bibliographic reference, by way of comment, explanation, or description. It may also be referred to as a Scope note when used in a Thesaurus.

Balanced scorecard is a performance measurement system that, in addition to financial measures, quantifies items that had previously been considered as Intangible assets, such as brand image, customers, reputation, Human capital, Information, Innovation, and Corporate culture. See also: Customer relationship management, Intellectual property, Knowledge assets, Knowledge management.

Benchmarking is a continuous, systematic process for evaluating and comparing an organization’s activities, products, services, and work processes with those of organizations that are recognized as representing best practices for the purposes of performance improvement. A secondary purpose is to reveal useful practices or ideas that may be adopted or adapted with advantage. See also: Reengineering, Reverse engineering.

Competitive advantage is gained by exploiting the unique blend of activities, assets, attributes, market conditions, and relationships that differentiates an organization from its competitors. These may include: access to natural resources, specific location, or skilled workforce. See also: Business intelligence, Competitor, Critical success factors.

Counterintelligence refers to those activities that are concerned with identifying and counteracting the threat to security posed by hostile intelligence services or organizations, or by individuals engaged in Espionage, sabotage, or subversion. See also: Corporate security, Intellectual property, Knowledge assets.

Dashboard is a Visualization tool that provides graphical depictions of current key performance indicators in order to enable faster response to changes in areas such as sales, customer relations, performance assessments, and inventory levels.

Data consist of unconnected facts, numbers, names, codes, symbols, dates, words, and other items of that nature that are out of context, and that only acquire meaning through association. See also: Business intelligence, Code, Information, Knowledge.

Data logging involves the conversion of electrical impulses from process instruments into digital Data to be recorded, stored, and periodically tabulated.

Data mart is a focused collection of operational Data that is usually confined to a specific aspect of a business. A number of stand-alone data marts are often referred to as Islands of data.

Data mining is the systematic computer Analysis, through the use of statistical techniques (often employing Neural networks), of large volumes of collected Data with the aim of revealing previously unidentified patterns, trends, and relationships about customers, products, services, and other activities that can lead to new and profitable business Opportunities. As with any Database, the critical aspects are to do with accurate, up-to-date content, and with the means used for locating and matching that content to user needs; that is, with the level of intellectual input. For these reasons the procedure is complex and protracted, calling for specialized expertise and imagination. Also known as Database tomography, Discovery informatics, or Knowledge discovery. Examples of data mining applications include: identifying new customers, predicting customer buying habits, confirming suitable loan applicants, revealing fraud, indicating potentially rewarding investments, managing equity portfolios, diagnosing medical problems, inventory management, and conducting certain aspects of Marketing. See also: Data warehouse, Predictive analytics, Text mining, Visualization. Document contains recorded human Knowledge, in any format; or is Information structured in such a way as to facilitate human comprehension. See also: Explicit knowledge, File, Report, Surrogate.

Document management system is a computer-based technique for storing and retrieving documents held in a wide variety of formats or in a number of geographic locations. Many systems allow for the control and recording of changes to documents, as well as a measure of the volume of use. Also known as a Record management system. See also: Document.

Embodied knowledge is that Knowledge which is incorporated in a product although not explicitly identified. It is integral to equipment or materials; for example, the technological knowledge contained in a modern household appliance, a vehicle, or a recording device. Embodied knowledge can often be deduced through Reverse engineering. It is sometimes loosely referred to as Implicit knowledge. See also: Knowledge.

Environmental scanning involves continuous monitoring of the whole Business environment, primarily in order to identify Opportunities and Threats resulting from change. See also: SWOT analysis.

Experimental development involves systematic work using Applied or Basic research or practical experience for the purpose of creating new, or improving existing, materials, devices, products, processes, or services.

Expert system is a particular development of Artificial intelligence that helps to solve problems or make decisions through the use of a store of relevant Information (known as the Knowledge base, and derived from one or more human experts), and a set of reasoning techniques. See also:

Explicit knowledge consists of anything that can be codified, or expressed in words, numbers, and other symbols (such as plans, marketing surveys, customer lists, specifications, manuals, instructions for assembling components, scientific formulae) and can, therefore, be easily articulated, usually in the form of documents, processes, procedures, products, and practices. See also: Document, Know-how, Knowledge, Knowledge management, Tacit knowledge.

Grid computing refers to the automated sharing and coordination of the collective processing power of many widely scattered, robust computers that are not normally centrally controlled, and that are subject to open standards. Other terms employed in this context include: Autonomic computing, Data-centre virtualization, On-demand computing, Public resource computing, and Utility computing. See also: Clustering.

Information consists of Data arranged in some sort of order (for instance, by classification or rational presentation) so that they acquire meaning or reveal associations between data items. Information may also be defined as a physical surrogate of Knowledge (language, for instance) used for communication. See also: Business intelligence, Classify, Document, File, Intelligence.

Information anxiety, see Information fatigue syndrome.

Information architecture is concerned with the creation and organization of a Web site. See also: Content management system, Metadata, Ontology, Taxonomy, Thesaurus, Topic map, Visualization.

Multi-user dimension (MUD) is a multi-user simulation environment in which users can create documents with which others can interact, thus allowing a World to be built gradually and collectively. Often referred to as a Dungeon. See also: Document.

Portfolio analysis provides a framework to assess relative Opportunities and to enhance the return on investment (RoI) in a company’s portfolio of businesses. It is used to optimize the allocation of available resources among strong and weak products, brands, or business units. See also: Predictive analytics.

Research impact assessment uses combinations of methods to ascertain the effect of Research on a specific field of endeavor, on allied fields, on related technologies or systems, and on operations. The main approach may be qualitative (peer review), semi-quantitative (retrospective studies), or quantitative (Bibliometrics).

Tactical intelligence is Knowledge about an organization’s Business environment that has implications for its viability and success in the immediate future. It often concerns such matters as Marketing, promotion, pricing and positioning.

Tactical planning is that aspect of organizational Planning which covers the immediate future, that is, up to about one year from the present time. See also: Business planning, Operational planning, Scenario planning, Strategic planning.

Vector space modeling is a profiling and matching technique (a form of Selective dissemination of information) that depends upon the frequency of occurrence of words in a sample Document. When processed, this document forms the basis of a profile that is then used to gather matching items. Vector space modeling is more often employed in a scientific context, rather than in business; the latter presenting a fuzzier problem.

Visualization of information is a technique for making visual representations of the topics or ideas contained in a body of Information, and of their relationships with each other. They usually take the form of maps or other graphical depictions that can be readily understood. Visualization expands the capacity of the human mind to deal with complex matters, enables users to extract Knowledge more efficiently, and helps them to find insights not always obvious when information is presented in traditional formats. Other terms used include: Argument mapping, Concept mapping, Content visualization, or Graphic visualization. See also: Computer graphics, Dashboard, Knowledge map, Predictive analytics, Social network analysis, Sonification.

War gaming is a process, adapted from the military, in which teams or individuals, representing the company and its competitors, simulate a business situation and act out the roles of decision makers in timed phases. Comparison between the results leads to the next stage. This continues until at least one feasible Strategy, counter-strategy, or solution emerges. War gaming is very effective in industries undergoing high rates of change. Sometimes referred to as a Strategy game or as Virtual competition. See also: Business environment, Competitor, Scenario planning.

War room is an area set aside for use as an Intelligence or Knowledge centre or as a demonstration room for Reverse engineering purposes. Also referred to as an Operations or Situation room; it may:

• contain a variety of Intelligence or Market-oriented displays;

• act as an Internet/Intranet/Database/Knowledge map centre;

• be equipped as a library or a repository of Information collections;

• allow easy and rapid access to recent Research results.