Unit 57 – Business Intelligence

Acknowledgement
I owe a great debt of thanks to the esteemed individuals who provided me with invaluable
assistance while I compiled the information for my report. I'd want to express my appreciation to

......, our lecturer, for providing me with a helpful framework for my report via several
discussions and consultations. In addition, I'd want to extend my appreciation to everyone who
has helped me in any way, shape, or form while I was compiling this report
Contents
Acknowledgement...........................................................................................................................2
Section A.........................................................................................................................................4
Introduction to organization........................................................................................................4
Business process..........................................................................................................................5
Support processes........................................................................................................................5
Differentiation between structured and semi structured data......................................................6
An evaluation of the use of application software as a mechanism for effective business
processing....................................................................................................................................7
Section B..........................................................................................................................................9
Managerial levels of organization...............................................................................................9
Business intelligence tools used by each level..........................................................................10
Business intelligence.................................................................................................................11
Concept of business intelligence architecture............................................................................11
BI tools.......................................................................................................................................12
Section A
Introduction to organization
John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH) is Sri Lanka's biggest publicly traded corporation. The
John Keells Group of enterprises has been around for more than 150 years, and the Group has
been a major contributor to and a cornerstone of both the Sri Lankan economy due to its many
innovations and strategic collaborations that have made it a market leader in several sectors. (Plc,
2023)
John Keells Holdings PLC and its affiliates run operations in the shipping, tourism, real
estate, grocery stores, credit unions, and computer networks sectors throughout Sri Lanka, Asia,
and Europe. Ports and shipping, integrated logistics, and airline and aviation services are all part
of the company's Transportation division. Shipping, air express, travel, inland container depots,
warehousing, and haulage are just some of the services offered by the company. They also own
and operate South Asia Gateway terminals in the Port of Colombo, supply marine fuels and
lubricants, and provide international freight forwarding and airline representation. The Leisure
division of the firm operates in the hospitality business, providing services including hotel
management and resort management. Under the Property division, you'll find the business of
building and selling flats, as well as managing buildings. Carbonated soft drink, ice cream, and
processed meat manufacturing and distribution, as well as the management of KeellsSuper
supermarkets, all fall within the purview of the company's Consumer Foods & Retail division.
Financial Services includes banking, leasing, insurance, and stockbrokering. Consultancy,
software services, information integration, and office automation are all part of the IT Services
portfolio the firm provides. (Plc, 2023)
The Leisure division of the firm operates in the hospitality business, providing services
including hotel management and resort management. Under the Property division, you'll find the
business of building and selling flats, as well as managing buildings. Carbonated soft drink, ice
cream, and processed meat manufacturing and distribution, as well as the management of
KeellsSuper supermarkets, all fall within the purview of the company's Consumer Foods &
Retail division. Financial Services includes banking, leasing, insurance, and stockbrokering.
Consultancy, software services, information integration, and office automation are only some of
the offerings under the company's IT Services division. John Keells Holdings also makes
traditional low-grown teas, CTC, and runs a warehouse facility for pre-auction goods. John
Keells Holdings is a company with its headquarters in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It was established in
1979. (Plc, 2023)
Business process
The term "business process" refers to the coordinated actions taken by several people
inside a company to accomplish a common objective. Humans or computers follow a detailed
plan as they carry out the operations, with the end goal always in sight. The health and expansion
of a company are closely tied to how well its procedures are implemented and managed. (Prat,
2023)
The word "business process" may also refer to a more straightforward definition: a series
of interrelated actions whose successful completion leads to the achievement of a certain
objective. There are many types of business processes
1. Core processes
These actions are the lifeblood of every company, since they are what ultimately benefit the
clientele. This methodology is in perfect harmony with the company's guiding principles and
long-term goals. These procedures are crucial to a company's development and income, thus they
must be closely monitored and constantly improved. (Prat, 2023)
2. Support processes
These auxiliary actions ensure that the essential ones may proceed without a hitch. Although
while they do not directly result in increased income, they do help internal departments work
together more effectively by facilitating greater alignment of the key processes. Processes like
human resources management, financial management, administrative, and operations all come
under "supporting processes" since they aid in the growth of a company.
3. Management processes
End-to-end planning, monitoring, management, and control of the core or supporting processes.
These procedures are outcome-focused and guarantee the smooth running of daily activities in
any company. Their main responsibilities include keeping an eye on how the firm is doing both
internally and outside, assessing any potential problems or improvements, and making sure
everything runs smoothly.
The term "business process technology" is used to describe the use of hardware, software,
and networked computer systems to improve operational efficiencies inside an organization. It is
useful for businesses since it increases productivity, cuts down on mistakes, and saves time and
money over doing things manually. It's adaptable to meet specific requirements and has wide-
ranging potential applications. Business process technology includes applications like CRM and
ERP systems, as well as workflow management tools like workflow management software. (Prat,
2023)
Support processes
In order to assist the primary processes that are responsible for producing value, support
processes that offer the required resources and infrastructure have been put into place.
Support activities, despite the fact that core operations immediately provide value to external
customers, are for the benefit of internal customers.
Other examples of support processes include supplying goods and services to corporate
clients, offering assistance in the areas of information technology and finance, and so on. A
prospective resource delivery lifecycle is followed by each of these supporting processes, and
often, each of these procedures is related to a certain department or division within the company.
When it comes to support activities, interdepartmental coordination is not only conceivable but
also routine. One example of a mechanism that assists an organization in accomplishing its
objective without directly helping its customers is the provision of internal capacity by the
company. (Denver, 2023)
Even if a company does not directly provide value to its customers, this does not render
support operations meaningless to the company. It's possible that support processes are of the
highest strategic significance because of the influence they have on the ability of a corporation to
carry out its main activities. (Denver, 2023)
Differentiation between structured and semi structured data
Data that has been properly structured has been given a consistent format and
transformation. The unprocessed information is transformed into fields well-suited for extraction
and reading using SQL. An excellent illustration of structured data is the tables and rows that
make up a SQL relational database. (Naeem, 2020)
This data format makes use of RAM thanks to its relational nature, which reduces
redundant information. The downside is that this makes organized data much more reliant on
other pieces of information and less adaptable. Let's have a look at some additional samples of
structured data. (Naeem, 2020)
These records are produced by both human and mechanical means. Several types of
machine-generated structured data exist, including data from point-of-sale terminals (POSs) such
as sales volume and barcodes, and statistics from blogs. Likewise, spreadsheets, the prototypical
example of human-generated structured data, are familiar to anybody who has ever worked with
data. Structured data, in contrast to semi-structured data and unstructured data, is much simpler
to analyze due to its organization. (Naeem, 2020)
Semi-structured or partly structured data sets may also exist between the two extremes of
"non-structured" and "structured" information. Data that has some consistent and defined
qualities is called semi-structured data. It doesn't force data into a certain format, like that of a
relational database. Semi-structured data is made more manageable with the use of
organizational qualities like metadata or semantics tags, but it still has some unpredictability and
inconsistency. (Naeem, 2020)
Delimited files are an instance of a semi-structured data format. Structured data
decomposition components are included. To a similar extent, digital photos are semi-structured
in that the image itself lacks a rigid framework but is characterized by a number of structural
characteristics. If you snap a picture with your smartphone, you can expect it to include
structured data like a geotag, device ID, and a timestamp. Images may be organized in a database
by being tagged with terms like "pet" or "dog" after they have been saved.
An evaluation of the use of application software as a mechanism for effective business
processing
Application software is a kind of program that operates in response to user input. The era
of framework programming has given way to that of application development. Machine code is
often written in high-level languages. For a certain purpose alone, in the world of computer
programming. A crucial aspect of "application programming" to keep in mind is its breadth.
More or less, that's all there is to it. So, the term "application" is often used to refer to any kind of
client program. For this reason, the adage "there's an app for that" has been widely accepted. The
word "application programming" is sometimes used to refer to groups of related programming
applications, whereas the term "application program" is often used to refer to a single piece of
software. This is because "programming" often refers to requesting many copies of a single
program, whereas "program" stands for a single, countable item. (anshitaagarwal, 2023)
Benefits
 Their one and only winning feature is that they may customize their services to the
specific needs of each individual customer. As it was designed with a single purpose in
mind, the customer knows he can only use a single, purpose-built piece of software to
complete the task at hand.
 Businesses with this capability might restrict access and consider other means of
monitoring operations.
 The licensed application programming was kept up-to-date by an engineer on a regular
basis for reasons of safety. In addition, the engineer regularly sends professors to rectify
any recurring faults.
 Whilst the likelihood of viruses targeting handmade crafts is low, it is still important to
take precautions. Any company that helps you complete your project should be able to
restrict access and provide you with a plan to safeguard their location.
Drawbacks
 It may be quite expensive for engineers to develop application software with the specific
goal of accomplishing some task. Spending an excessive amount of time developing a
product that is not generally worthy might have a negative impact on their financial
strategy and revenue stream.
 There is a real risk of infection by a bug or other malicious programs in widely used
application software that is then distributed via the internet.
 It takes a lot of effort to make them since it requires open lines of communication
between the engineer and the person providing assistance. This delays the whole
technique of production, which might be detrimental in a few situations.
 A custom-designed software package may be developed for a particular business venture,
but it is unlikely to work well with other well-known software packages. For certain
workplaces, this may prove to be the biggest obstacle.
Section B
Managerial levels of organization
1. Top management
Leaders include a board of directors and a CEO/MD. It is the senior management's responsibility
to oversee the company's overall objectives and policies. It places a greater emphasis on planning
and organizing operations.
The key decisions taken are,
 Organizational goals and broad guidelines are established by upper management.
 The department's budget, processes, and schedules may all be found in this document
since it contains all the required directives for their creation.
 Its function is to draft the company's long-term strategies and policies.
 The executive for the intermediate tier, i.e. the managers of individual departments, is
selected through this process.
 Keeping in touch with the external world is also part of its purview.
 It's a map that helps you find your way.
 The company's senior brass must account to shareholders for the business as a whole.
2. Middle level
Middle management consists of branch managers and head departmental managers. They
report directly to upper management and are expected to ensure the smooth operation of their
unit. They focus more on managerial and leadership tasks. Middle management exists as a single
layer in smaller businesses but as two in larger ones. Their significance may be summed up as -
Decisions taken are,
 They devise strategies for the divisions of the company.
 They take involved in the hiring and education of middle managers.
 Policy directives from higher up are explained and interpreted by these individuals.
 They need to make sure everything within their section or department runs well.
 There are also reports and other data sent up to the upper echelons of management.
 They are in charge of assessing the efficiency of lower-level managers.
 They must also motivate middle managers to do their best work.
3. Lower level
Management at a lower level is often referred to as the supervisory or operational level.
Administrative personnel include a superintendent, section officers, foremen, and others.
Supervisory managers are "executives whose job needs to deal substantially with personal
monitoring and direction of operative staff," as outlined by R.C. Davis. In other words, they
focus on the managerial functions of leading and regulating. There are several things they do,
such as -
  Task and job allocation among employees.
 The staff is directed and instructed in routine tasks by these people.
 They're in charge of both output volume and output quality.
 One of their duties is fostering positive working relationships inside the company.
 They relay both top-level aims and objectives to workers and issues, ideas, and
recommendations from lower-level employees to management.
 By doing so, they aid in resolving worker complaints.
 They are in charge of directing and guiding the workers under them.
 To that end, they must train the staff.
 They set up the machinery, equipment, and other resources required to do the tasks.
 They often compile reports detailing employee output.
 They maintain order in the business.
 Worker morale is improved as a result.
 Because of their constant interaction with employees, they play a crucial role in shaping
the company's public image.
Business intelligence tools used by each level
1. Top management
 Executive support system- The goal of executive support systems is to aid top managers
in making strategic, non-programmed choices. These details often come from somewhere
else, are not well organized, and may be a little shaky. In many cases, it is impossible to
predict the precise nature and location of such data. (Haije, 2022)
All of the data presented here is intelligence-based.
 Data Mining in the Markets
 Market Research
 Innovation in technology
2. Middle level
 MIS- The field of Management Information Systems (MIS) focuses on understanding the
interplay between humans, computers, and businesses. Experts in management
information systems ensure that businesses get the most out of their resources. People are
central to the MIS discipline, which places a focus on providing value to clients through
technological means. A major in management information systems might be a good fit
for you if you like working with data and are interested in finding ways to use technology
effectively. (Haije, 2022)
 DSS- Data is collected, analyzed, and synthesized by a decision support system, with the
resulting reports being very detailed and helpful. DSSs provide a more informative
purpose than do regular operations apps, which often just gather data. It is possible to run
the DSS entirely on computers or to rely on human operators. Both may be used together
at times. The best systems can assess data and choose actions without human
 intervention. A minimum benefit is that they speed up the decision-making process while
improving accuracy. (Haije, 2022)
3. Lower level management.
 TPS- When it comes to doing business, a transaction process system (TPS) is any
computerized system that stores, updates, and retrieves information about past, present,
and future deals. TPSs are defined by their high levels of efficiency, dependability, and
uniformity. Transaction processing is typically contrasted with batch processing, in which
a large number of requests are processed all at once. The former calls for user input,
whereas the latter may be done in a hands-off fashion using batch processing. Due to
batch processing, the outcomes of individual transactions are delayed. On top of that,
there is a lag time while the many queries are aggregated, stored, and ultimately carried
out. Each transaction's outcome is made accessible instantly thanks to the absence of lag
time in transaction processing. Errors are possible during the batch processing delay
period. Although if mistakes can happen sometimes in processing transactions, they are
often minor and may be overlooked without the need to completely shut down the
system. (Haije, 2022)
Business intelligence
In order to assist businesses in making better data-driven choices, business intelligence
integrates business intelligence, data gathering, data visualization, data tools & infrastructure,
and best practices. In reality, contemporary business intelligence is present when a company has
a bird's-eye perspective of its data and uses that information to motivate change, reduce
inefficiencies, and swiftly respond to shifts in the market or supply. Flexibility in self-service
analysis, data governance on reliable platforms, user agency, and rapid insight generation are the
four pillars of today's BI systems.
To be clear, this is a pretty recent definition of BI, and BI has a long and troubled history
as a term. Business Intelligence (capitalization and all) is a term that has been around since the
1960s when it was developed as a means of information exchange between businesses. In 1989,
computer models for making decisions and the phrase "Business Intelligence" were both
developed. These tools advanced to the point where they could be sold separately by business
intelligence (BI) groups providing IT-dependent service solutions, where they could transform
data into actionable insights. When it comes to business intelligence, the information presented
here is only the top of the iceberg.
Concept of business intelligence architecture
Standards and procedures for organizing data using computer-based methods and
technology to develop business intelligence systems utilized for online data presentation,
reporting, and analysis are referred to as a business intelligence architecture.
 Data warehousing is a part of the BI architecture. A data warehouse is the backbone of
any business intelligence system, since it is where all of the information is kept and from which
insights may be drawn.
Data management, as its name implies, is concerned with the gathering, storing, and
retrieval of information. Supporting BI efforts requires a solid data management infrastructure.
The requirements of the company should be taken into account while designing this system.
Management of data happens at every level of an organization, beginning with the data
acquired by devices and sensors and ending with the data recorded by personnel into databases.
In addition to data collected internally, data is also collected from other sources including social
media, industry research companies, and government organizations.
Accurate, up-to-date, and readily available data is the end result of good data
management. Data management systems should be built with scale, security, and performance in
mind to do this. Data management is shown through a factory that employs sensors to track
production data. This information is collected, catalogued, and made accessible to workers so
they may enhance production output. The data the organization has collected and stored about its
production process is a significant asset it may utilize to grow.
BI tools
1. SAP business objectives- In terms of reporting, analysis, and dynamic data visualization, SAP
Business Objects is unrivaled. There is a strong emphasis on areas like customer relationship
management (CRM), digital supply chain, enterprise resource planning (ERP), and more on this
platform. This platform's self-service, role-based dashboards are great since they let users create
their own dashboards and apps. SAP is a comprehensive system that serves the needs of all users
(IT, end users, and management) with a wide range of features. But, keep in mind that the
product's intricacy will likely result in a higher price tag. (Haije, 2022)
2. Datapine- Datapine is an end-to-end BI solution that makes data analytics simple for everyone,
not just IT pros. With datapine's solution, data analysts and business users alike can quickly and
effectively combine disparate data sources, conduct in-depth data analysis, create engaging
business dashboards, and derive actionable business insights. (Haije, 2022)
3. SAS business intelligence- SAS's flagship product may be its sophisticated predictive
analytics, but the company also offers a top-notch BI system. This self-service platform has been
around since the 1970s, and its customers have been able to make smarter business choices
because to the data and analytics it provides. SAS guarantees high-level information exchange
and sophisticated analytics & reporting, and they provide consumers a lot of leeway in terms of
customization via their collection of APIs. You may get even deeper insights into your data with
their excellent text analytics capability. (Haije, 2022).
4. Oracle BI- Oracle Business Intelligence is an all-encompassing suite of tools for gathering and
analyzing data at an organization's scale. Dashboards, proactive intelligence, ad hoc analysis, and
other BI tools are all at users' disposal using this innovation. Oracle is also a fantastic choice for
businesses that need to analyze massive amounts of data (both from Oracle and non-Oracle
sources). Data preservation, versioning, a self-service portal, and alerts/notifications are other
key elements. (Haije, 2022)
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