Processes for unlocking actionable business intelligence in SA banking institutions

Abstract

Since much more than the implementation of IT solutions is frequently required to produce actionable intelligence output, the unlocking of actionable Business Intelligence (BI) for decision-making based on both internal and external information sources, is proving to be a real challenge for SA banking institutions. Although all the major banking institutions in South Africa produce and use BI in some form or the other, the concept is often not clearly defined, and not enough emphasis is placed on the use of recognized intelligence processes to provide intelligence output that is both accurate and actionable. The aim of this research was to determine whether SA banking institutions applied recognized intelligence processes, or components thereof, while conducing BI assignments. Whilst the typical four- or five-stage intelligence process, as discussed in BI literature, was commonly accepted by the banking institutions that participated in this research as a benchmark in conducting BI, the researcher established that these institutions placed more emphasis on executing some stages, whilst other stages were executed in an ad hoc manner. In this regard it was found that, while emphasis was placed on the collection stage of the BI process during the ‘analysis stage’, which is one of the most important stages of the process, no specific step-by-step procedure was followed. In the analysis stage of the process, emphasis was typically placed on the application of the specific methods of analysis. In the stages of the BI processes that deal with BI requirements definition and dissemination of BI products, formal BI processes were also found to be lacking. This prompted the researcher to suggest a practical step-by-step process for dealing with each stage of the BI process. In the final chapter of this dissertation, the researcher provides a summary of the key findings in relation to the research problem and identifies a number of areas in which further research should be conducted. Finally, it is important to note that BI will remain a critical business issue for SA banking institutions in their efforts to become more profitable, more customer centred, and ultimately more competitive in the face of dynamic and challenging market conditions. In this regard BI processes provide a critical framework for the conduct of BI assignments in SA banking institutions. he full text of this thesis/dissertation is not available online. Please contact us if you need access Since much more than the implementation of IT solutions is frequently required to produce actionable intelligence output, the unlocking of actionable Business Intelligence (BI) for decision-making based on both internal and external information sources, is proving to be a real challenge for SA banking institutions. Although all the major banking institutions in South Africa produce and use BI in some form or the other, the concept is often not clearly defined, and not enough emphasis is placed on the use of recognized intelligence processes to provide intelligence output that is both accurate and actionable. The aim of this research was to determine whether SA banking institutions applied recognized intelligence processes, or components thereof, while conducing BI assignments. Whilst the typical four- or five-stage intelligence process, as discussed in BI literature, was commonly accepted by the banking institutions that participated in this research as a benchmark in conducting BI, the researcher established that these institutions placed more emphasis on executing some stages, whilst other stages were executed in an ad hoc manner. In this regard it was found that, while emphasis was placed on the collection stage of the BI process during the ‘analysis stage’, which is one of the most important stages of the process, no specific step-by-step procedure was followed. In the analysis stage of the process, emphasis was typically placed on the application of the specific methods of analysis. In the stages of the BI processes that deal with BI requirements definition and dissemination of BI products, formal BI processes were also found to be lacking. This prompted the researcher to suggest a practical step-by-step process for dealing with each stage of the BI process. In the final chapter of this dissertation, the researcher provides a summary of the key findings in relation to the research problem and identifies a number of areas in which further research should be conducted. Finally, it is important to note that BI will remain a critical business issue for SA banking institutions in their efforts to become more profitable, more customer centred, and ultimately more competitive in the face of dynamic and challenging market conditions. In this regard BI processes provide a critical framework for the conduct of BI assignments in SA banking institutions.