Information Analysis
You ask your BI team a reporting question and three weeks later get something that doesn't quite match what you were looking for. The cause is rarely technical — it's usually a question that wasn't clearly translated into what exactly needs to be measured, defined, and delivered. An information analysis maps out the real information need upfront. That way you build the right solution the first time, without a costly second attempt.
Why an information analysis?
An information analysis is the process of continuously asking the question behind the question. Not “we want a dashboard about revenue,” but: which decision should that dashboard support, who uses it, what does “revenue” mean exactly within your organization, and which sources does that information come from? Without this step, a project starts on assumptions that you only discover late in the process, once the report has already been built and still doesn't fit.
This happens more often than you'd think. Different departments use their own definition of the same term, a reporting question changes halfway through the project, or nobody can explain exactly which information is needed for what. An information analysis exposes these bottlenecks before you spend time and budget on a solution that doesn't answer the question.
Our approach
We don't start with the tooling, but with the information need itself.
- We clearly map out the business question: which decision or process should the information support?
- We identify which information is needed for that and clearly document definitions and terms.
- We map out which source systems this information comes from and where any gaps or inconsistencies lie.
- We draw up an information model: an overview of which data relates to which, and how.
- We translate the results into concrete requirements, ready to build on, for example in a dashboard, report, or data foundation.
What does an information analysis deliver?
Clear information need
A sharp, consistent information need instead of a vague reporting question.
Consistent definitions
Consistent definitions and terms, so discussion about figures disappears.
Insight into data sources
Insight into which sources and data are actually needed.
Solid basis for development
A concrete basis to build on directly, without having to adjust afterward.
Faster the right result
A greater chance that you deliver what was actually asked for the first time, instead of a second or third round after delivery. That saves time: the project finishes faster, not after a rebuild afterward.
Higher adoption
Less frustration on the business side, because the end result matches what people actually need. And that's exactly why a dashboard or report that does fit actually gets used: adoption of the end product is higher.
Our success stories
Information Analysis in BI
A data product that's actually used starts with a thorough information analysis. In this training, you learn to ask the business the right questions, clarify what the end user needs, and map out data flows. That way, every BI dashboard or data warehouse you deliver matches practice. Request the Information Analysis in BI training below.
Get started
Want to avoid discovering only after delivery that a report doesn't answer the right question? Request a no-obligation intake conversation and find out what an information analysis can mean for your organization.
FAQ
What is information analysis?
Information analysis is the process of mapping out an organization's or department's real information need: which question needs answering, which definitions apply, and which data is needed for that.
When do I need an information analysis?
When a reporting or dashboard question isn't sharply defined, when departments use different definitions for the same terms, or when a project previously stalled because the question changed halfway through.
What does an information analysis concretely deliver?
A consistent information need, documented definitions, and an information model you can use directly as the basis for a dashboard, report, or data foundation.
How long does an information analysis take?
That depends on the scope, but for a well-defined reporting or dashboard question you can usually count on a few weeks: enough to properly map out the information need, definitions, and sources without unnecessarily delaying the project.