BI Requirements Checklist
The BI Requirements Checklist is designed to provide a framework for gathering
user requirements for BI technology. The framework covers, not only the
obvious BI functions, but also the follow-up actions a user may need to perform,
with the information gathered using the BI technology. In some cases, normal
Office automation tools, may be the answer, but applets or macros may be
required to help with integration.
The checklist is divided into various major sections with individual points. Points
are accompanied by descriptions to help clarify the question being asked.
Once your users have completed the checklist, you will have an overall
understanding of what they perceive their needs to be, to support their business
activities. Follow the data gathering with an analysis of the responses, grouping
the answers into:
Nice to Have
rating totals 1 to 4
Good to Have
rating totals 5 to 7
Must Have
rating totals 8 to 10
Not Required
rating total of 0
It should be noted that no single product, can fulfill all the items on the checklist.
BI solutions are a collection of tools that are used to satisfy the business
requirements.
Users from different areas will have different requirements. Marketing people will
have a need for segmentation, while financial users will have a need for specific
financial calculations. Your data gathering should account for the diversity of
requirements by business function, and job function.
M87systems Corporation
Page 1
http://www.m87systems.com
BI Requirements Checklist
Name:
______________________________
Department:
______________________________
Position:
______________________________
Telephone:
______________________________
Email:
______________________________
Requirement
Description
Rating
1 to 10
Data Inquiry
Simple Ad Hoc real time inquiry
Computed Columns
Prompted Ad Hoc inquiries
Scheduled data extracts
External Sources of Information
M87systems Corporation
The ability to enter and execute a
query retrieving information, containing
information having, simple sums,
counts and averages, grouped by
specified values.
The ability to have columns of
information that are calculated and not
stored.
The ability to execute predefined
inquiries, which prompt you for
constraints, but always retrieve the
same columns of information
The ability to have queries executed at
predetermined times, or related to
business events.
The ability to integrate information from
outside the Data Warehouse.
Examples:
 Spreadsheets
 Files from outside sources,
vendors, suppliers, catalogs
 Files external to the Data
Warehouse such as VSAM files,
IMS databases, flat files, other
databases.
Page 1
http://www.m87systems.com
BI Requirements Checklist
Requirement
Description
Rating
1 to 10
Data Inquiry
Import information for personal use
Retrieve small amounts of information
Retrieve large amounts of information
Use Summary Information
Use Detail Information
M87systems Corporation
The ability import inquiries into P/C
based packages for further analysis.
Examples:
 Import into a spreadsheet
 Import into a personal database
A few hundred rows of information,
which may fit comfortably into a
spreadsheet
A few thousand, or more rows of
information, not likely to fit comfortably
into a spreadsheet.
May be stored in a personal database
for further analysis.
Information that is aggregated to predetermined levels.
Example:
Product sales by region and time
Information captured at the detail level,
perhaps at a transaction level.
Page 2
http://www.m87systems.com
BI Requirements Checklist
Requirement
Description
Rating
1 to 10
Data Manipulation
Workgroup Databases
Custom Forms Presentation
Spreadsheet View
Interactive Updates
Batch Updates
Data Warehouse Write Back
Requirement
The ability to extract information for
local storage and further analysis
The ability to view and update
information using a custom form
The ability to view information in a row
and column format
The ability to change information in
real time
The ability to store changes for
processing later
The ability to have changes made put
back into the Data Warehouse.
Description
Rating
1 to 10
Data Analysis
Forecasting
Budgeting
Time Series Analysis
Business Modeling/What If scenarios
Goal Seeking
Regression Analysis
Statistical Functions
Financial Functions
Segmentation
M87systems Corporation
The ability to perform a time based
analysis
The ability to create models to reflect
possible outcomes.
The ability to define a desired goal,
and have various factors evaluated to
achieve that goal.
The ability to analyze how different
variables affect an outcome, and use
that data to predict outcomes for other
data series.
Use simple and advanced statistical
functions, like skew and variance.
Use financial functions like IRR and
NPV
The ability to define groups based on a
criteria, and then re-use that group for
further analysis.
Page 3
http://www.m87systems.com
BI Requirements Checklist
Requirement
Description
Rating
1 to 10
Reporting
Report Types
Columnar
Cross Tab or Pivoted
Banded
Aggregation
Computed Columns
Complex Calculations
Drill Up and Drill Down
Mixed Text and Graphics
Cosmetic Control
Database Publishing
Exception Reporting
Controlled Calculations
Report Templates
Prompted Reports
Reporting Preferences
M87systems Corporation
Information listed in columns by
column heading
Information listed in Columns, but data
values can form column headings
Information listed in horizontal bands,
with each band having it’s own content
and possibly spanning multiple lines.
Having the ability to create totals, and
sum duplicate rows of information
The ability to have columns of
information that are calculated from
queried data.
The ability to have complex
calculations
Examples:
 Percent of Total
 Rolling Sums
 Period Comparisons
The ability to view information at a
specific level, and drill to other levels of
information on a selected value.
Example:
 Drill Country ->Region ->District.
The ability to produce reports that
contain both text and graphics
The ability to control fonts, bolding, or
display report data in specialized forms
The ability to create documents that
are driven by report data.
Examples:
 Product Catalogs
The ability to produce reports that only
report on specific business problems.
Examples:
 Product Sales drop by 10%
 Customers having Late Payments
The ability to control the calculations
used, so that everyone uses the same
formulas.
The ability to create report layouts that
server as starting points for creating
custom reports
The ability to create reports that
prompt you for content and constraints.
The ability to set preferences for
constraints, or content.
Page 4
http://www.m87systems.com
BI Requirements Checklist
Requirement
Description
Rating
1 to 10
Graphics
Chart Types
Pie
Bar
Stacked Bar
Line
High/Low
Radar
Area
Histograms
Other
Combination
2D
3D
Multiple Scales
Split Scales
Median Line
Custom text Placement
Slide Shows
Custom Drawing
Maps
Clip Art
Chart Templates
The ability to mix chart types on a
single chart.
Example:
 A Bar chart having a Line Chart
superimposed on it.
2 Dimension Charts for Data Analysis
3 Dimension Charts for presentation
The ability to have multiple scales
displayed for different data series.
The ability to have scales change their
range to reflect vastly different data
series
The ability to place a line showing the
median for comparison purposes
The ability to randomly place text for
annotation purposes
The ability to create slide shows for
presentation purposes
The ability to perform drawing
functions to adjust the look of a
graphic, or create new objects
The ability to create geographical
diagrams
Automatic Update
The ability to create templates for
common chart generation
The ability for charts to automatically
reflect new information when the data
changes.
M87systems Corporation
Page 5
http://www.m87systems.com
BI Requirements Checklist
Requirement
Description
Rating
1 to 10
Data Security
Database level
Table level
Field Level
Field Content
Requirement
The ability to protect access to the
database in general
The ability to protect which tables of
information can be accessed
The ability to protect which fields on a
table can be viewed
Example:
 HR can see employee personal
information, but others cannot.
The ability to protect data according to
the content of the data.
Example:
 Managers can only see information
for their departments data
Description
Rating
1 to 10
Documents
Small Text Only
Small Text and Graphics
Large Text Only
Large Text and Graphics
Group editing of documents
M87systems Corporation
Page 6
http://www.m87systems.com
BI Requirements Checklist
Requirement
Description
Rating
1 to 10
Automation
Task automation
Complete/Advanced Automation
Scheduled Automation
Requirement
The ability to automate frequently used
tasks. Usually in the form of macros
and small applications that serve as
assists
The ability to fully automate a business
function requiring many steps
The ability to have common tasks
executed at predetermined times or
according to Business Events
Description
Rating
1 to 10
Portability and Accessibility
Remote access to tools
Stand Alone access to BI Tools
Internal Collaboration
External Collaboration
External Access
M87systems Corporation
The ability to use BI tools from remote
locations.
Examples:
 Mobile Devices
 VPN over Internet
The ability to use the tools when not
connected to the network
Examples:
 Laptops
 Smart Phones
 Tablets
The ability to share BI work with
persons inside the company.
Examples:
 Email
 Publish to a group in a Portal
The ability to send BI work to persons
outside the company.
The ability to have external resources
use the BI applications.
Examples:
 Suppliers checking inventory levels
 Vendors Checking Returns
Page 7
http://www.m87systems.com