As companies start doing more operational reporting, there are a few issues that come to mind

1. Data quality
2. Data consistency
3. Data completeness
4. Metadata
5. Master Data (of any kind)

All of the above play a role in the operational reporting process. Data quality covers bullets 2 and 3 in its own space. But if you have metadata and master data related needs, they are critical components to the success of your operational reporting.

Bottom line, we need to draw attention to the fact that you need organizational data alignment and a data governance committee that can really drive the process. As we move forward in the BI space, please bear in mind that your data drives your business. Having a good data strategy is critical to all the BI projects in your organization.

There are a number of books, whitepapers, articles on this subject and I encourage your to read up on this subject, no matter what level of maturity you are at in your BI projects.

What can we do about the data management conundrum. Setting up a Data Steward office brings a point owner and a governance body brings the quality, teamwork and the ability to prioritize the data demands. What can you do when you drink from a garden hose which switches to a fire hose?

This is both a business and technology problem. While the business problem needs to be addressed, this blog will overflow if we discuss that aspect alone. A technology solution to the problem is available in the data warehouse appliance platform. User education needs to be a prime goal to help the blackbox become transparent, but once the understanding is there, the solution architecture becomes self evident.

How we can accomplish this and more will be discussed another day.