The new version of SQL Server has hit RC (Release Candidate). This means that it is nearly ready for release. There will probably be one or two more RCs before the final product ships. There are some exciting new changes in the database and this is especially true of the business intelligence engine; Analysis Services. Continue reading “Microsoft Bets Big on BI” »

I finally got around to seeing Moneyball this weekend. I didn’t know too much about the film. I knew it was about baseball, had some actors that I like and had something to do with statistics. As a big fan of stats I was interested to see what all the fuss was about. I thought the movie was good. I think the fact that Hollywood spent $50 million on an advertisement for the power of business intelligence is pretty interesting.

Continue reading “Moneyball is Business Intelligence” »

It’s the start of a New Year, which means countless New Year’s resolutions will be made. How many people actually follow through with their New Year’s resolutions? Can you even remember what your New Year’s resolution was last year? Many people begin pursuing their resolution vigorously in the beginning, but eventually flame out because other stuff just gets in the way. What they’re missing is their very own ‘personal mission statement’. Continue reading “Creating Your Personal Mission Statement” »

How secure is your data? With the recent spate of Anonymous hacking more and more companies are asking this question. It seems important, but many companies treat data security as an afterthought. Companies appear to spend a lot of time securing their systems but not much time securing their data. Web based solutions generally require users to login and have password requirements, but many of those passwords are stored in plain text in a database. Is data security just too expensive for small businesses? Is it too hard? Continue reading “Secure Your Data” »

When most people think of SAP they think Fortune 500. There is a common belief that SAP customers are large companies that have locations around the world that need an ERP system that costs roughly the same as the GDP of a small European country. It might surprise people that SAP has a small business edition and that 88,000 businesses use it successfully. Continue reading “SAP and Tableau – Business Intelligence for Small Business” »

“I wanted a happy culture. So I fired all the unhappy people.”
—A very successful CEO (who asked not to be named)

The above quote comes from a BusinessWeek article. I tried most of the weekend to determine why this quote, and article, bothered me so much. It comes down to two things; hypocrisy and laziness. I’ve seen this type of thing happen before and know firsthand what it can do to an organization. Does this methodology or attitude improve morale in the organization? Continue reading “Listening Not Firing Improves Morale” »

As a software developer with a keen interest in data I find myself unable to resist articles like this one on Empirical Software Engineering. When I was in college the computer science department was part of the college of engineering. This always struck me as odd because it felt as if we did something that could be described as engineering by only the broadest of definitions. Sure, we had big O notation and cyclomatic complexity, but these other engineers had great tomes of data that told them if something worked. We had Professor Morse who threw things at us if our curly braces didn’t line up. Continue reading “Dogma vs. Data – Software Development Edition” »

Every small business, including DataFive, faces the challenges of marketing. Where will customers come from? How do we acquire more? How do we reach untapped markets? These questions plague a small business from day one. We (small business owners) are constantly told that this is a global economy. That is a great saying, but how does one tap into this global customer base? Continue reading “The International Small Business” »

It seems amazing that after working on something for 692 hours you give up, take it to a pro, and they have it fixed in 15 minutes. Is it a function of their amazing skill? That probably has a lot to do with it. Could it be their experience? I’m sure that helps. In many cases their skill and experience has led them to a set of tools that is perfect for the problem you’re trying to solve. These tools might not make you a pro, but they will certainly get you closer. Continue reading “The Right Tool for the Job” »

We are a society awash in data. You carry more data in your pocket (cell phone) than NASA had available when they put men on the moon. This staggering amount of data is used to sell you things, 9 out of 10 dentists approved. It’s also used to make you afraid of things, 1 person will die in a drunk-driving accident every 50 minutes. The power of the data available is not in question, the question is; how can a small business get and use this data to their advantage? Continue reading “Free Data – Your Competitive Advantage” »