Data Warehousing For Dummies®, 2nd Edition

Chapter 27. Collaborative Business Intelligence

In This Chapter

• Looking into a collaborative business intelligence support model

• Translating current collaboration technologies for use with business intelligence solutions

• Using collaborative business intelligence in the future

According to Wikipedia, collaboration is a recursive process where two or more people or organizations work together toward an intersection of common goals — for example, an intellectual endeavor that's creative in nature — by sharing knowledge and building consensus. Collaboration doesn't require leadership and can sometimes bring better results through decentralization and egalitarianism. In particular, teams that work collaboratively can obtain greater resources, recognition, and reward when facing competition for finite resources.

Collaboration technology has an enormous role in driving user interactions in the areas of entertainment and problem-solving. Collaboration in the technology sector refers to a wide variety of tools that enable groups of people to work together through asynchronous and synchronous methods of communication. Examples of collaboration technology include synchronous Web conferencing, using tools such as Microsoft Live Meeting or Cisco Webex, and asynchronous collaboration by using software such as Microsoft SharePoint. Additionally, Instant Messaging platforms such as those from Yahoo!, AOL, ICQ, and Microsoft enable peer-to-peer and group forum collaboration.

If properly implemented, a ...