Business Intelligence Network Newsletter

www.b-eye-network.com

February 14, 2006

Welcome Business Intelligence Data Visualization Newsletter Subscribers

Stephen Few

In this month's data visualization edition of the Business Intelligence Newsletter, I am happy to feature the work of a good friend and colleague, who just happens to also be the publisher of my first book: Jonathan Koomey, Ph.D. Jonathan is the author of Turning Numbers into Knowledge: Mastering the Art of Problem Solving. I originally discovered Jonathan through his book, which I used while doing research for my book Show Me the Numbers, and found in it a great complement to my own work in data visualization. To understand and communicate data effectively using visualization techniques or any approach, there are several things that you must understand about quantitative data, data analysis, and critical thinking. Jonathan's article, Best Practices for Understanding Quantitative Data, introduces several best practices for analyzing and presenting quantitative data that were derived from many years of work as a research analyst and as someone responsible for coaching teams of other research analysts.

My article, Recommendations for Your Data Visualization Bookshelf, provides a list and descriptions of what I consider the best books available about data visualization as applied to business intelligence. Each of these books belongs in your library if your work frequently involves the use of charts for the analysis or communication of quantitative business information.

I hope that you will continue to use this newsletter from the Business Intelligence Network as your regular source of information about visual communication and analysis. I would also like to invite you to broaden your knowledge and participation in data visualization by reading my blog and by participating in my discussion forum at www.PerceptualEdge.com.

Sincerely,

Stephen Few

In this issue

Best Practices for Understanding Quantitative Data
by Dr. Jonathan Koomey
When dealing with quantitative data, it is imperative that business analysts understand the numbers and not make any assumptions.

Recommendations for Your Data Visualization Bookshelf
by Stephen Few
A good library of data visualization books can save you countless hours of frustration and help you avoid costly mistakes.

Blog: Stephen Few
hosted by Stephen Few
I'll express thoughts about how visual representations of data and visual interaction techniques can be used in practical ways to analyze and communicate business information, and I'll occasionally venture into other areas of business intelligence as well.

Featured Product Demo

ADVIZOR® advanced reporting and analysis software enables people to make better and faster fact-based decisions. Built on patented visualization software developed in Bell Labs, ADVIZOR is world-class in empowering people to display, analyze and share their business information.
Learn More or Live Demo

Web Events

Recycling Business Logic: Take CDI across the Enterprise with Web Services
February 21 at 1 p.m. ET
The evolution of Web services is transforming the way companies do business. For customer data integration (CDI) implementations, a service oriented architecture (SOA) provides the freedom to build business rules for standardizing, verifying and merging data – and then apply those rules across the enterprise. Sponsored by DataFlux, this Web seminar features Aaron Zornes of The CDI Institute.
Register for this free event!

Shaping the Future – Leveraging the Power of Predictive Analytics
February 21 at 12 p.m. ET
Predictive analytics delivers more ROI from your data. Increase your business performance: automate analysis of corporate data. Understand why OLAP and reporting alone will not provide the answers you require.
Register for this free event!

The New Face of Data Warehousing
March 2 at 2 p.m. ET
It's bigger, faster and cheaper than ever before – but is it right for you? Join Claudia Imhoff to discuss the data warehouse appliances that offer larger capacity, outstanding performance and a starting price of less than $20,000 per terabyte.
Register now for this free event!

High-Powered Data Integration for Business Intelligence
March 9 at 2 p.m. ET
Discover how faster data integration (DI) eliminates bottlenecks when loading data into decision support environments. You will learn the best practices/pitfalls of a DI center and how to enhance every part of your business by improving your BI environment.
Register now for this exciting Web seminar with Claudia Imhoff.

Extending the Smart Business Toward Real-Time Business Intelligence
Available On Demand
Join Claudia Imhoff, Colin White and Judy Davis for a roundtable discussion on the latest research study on real-time business intelligence. Discover what real companies are doing to implement business intelligence platforms to support timely, effective business decisions.
View event now!

Join BeyeBLOGS

Join BeyeBLOGS
Ready to jump on the blog bandwagon? Here's your chance! It's free, fun and you get access to our entire network audience. Spots are limited, so act fast!
Start blogging now!

About this newsletter

The Business Intelligence Network™, www.b-eye-network.com, delivers expert-driven information that is critical to the business decisions you make every day. We provide information the way you want and need it. The content is organized by industry, technology and business role. Each industry-specific channel is hosted by a highly respected thought leader. Our experts currently include Bill Inmon, Claudia Imhoff, Dan Linstedt and others.

This Newsletter features articles and opinions of the identified authors, which are not necessarily those of the Business Intelligence Network or Powell Media LLC.