Database Suitability Assessment and IBM Cognos Framework Manager Best Practices

As consultants, we have found that the majority of struggling IBM Cognos implementations we encounter are due to either poor framework model design, or more often, a flawed database architecture. The case of the latter can present itself in a number of ways, but in the worst cases, we’ve discovered reporting applications built upon highly normalized OLTP systems that are ineffective and detrimental to both analytical and operational performance of an organization’s information systems. Another common case is an implementation of Cognos upon an existing data warehouse where users are provided with unfettered ad-hoc access to the data source for the first time, exposing previously unforeseen or unknown data quality issues.

Last month at the most recent gathering of the New England Cognos User Group, Tim Kreytak, an Ironside Group Principal Consultant, and Systems Consultant / Metadata Modeling guru Isaac Stein, of long-time client Mass Mutual, delivered an engaging presentation entitled “Database Suitability and Framework Manager Best Practices”. This presentation highlighted a set of processes and practices that the Ironside Group has helped Mass Mutual to establish. These processes help to ensure that as new analytic applications are implemented upon their IBM Cognos BI platform, they will not be susceptible to failure for reasons relating to inadequate database suitability or framework modeling.  The slides from this presentation are available for download here.

If you have questions about how you can implement a system of procedures and practices that will ensure the highest possible success rate for IBM Cognos implementations within your own organization, please feel free to contact us.