SIG Name Change

It's official! The membership voted 3 to 1 in favor of changing the name to Business Intelligence SIG (BI SIG).

Our mission does not change. We will continue to welcome users, consultants, and vendors who use, support, or assist with installing business intelligence products based upon Oracle technology.

Background

The Data Warehouse SIG determined in 2001 when it changed its name the first time and incorporated in the state of Missouri as a not-for-profit organization that business intelligence and its technical and supporting companion, data warehousing, would increase in significance and mind share for most organizations. Given the number of business intelligence failures we as a group had witnessed, it was also determined that keeping functional (BI analysts, business managers, and executives) and technicial (data warehouse/data mart specialists, IT managers, BI applications managers, directors, and CIO's) people "in the same room" would promote better understanding of the critical success factors for successful BI initiatives and programs.

The BI SIG officers in mid-2002 further realized that the three existing user groups (IOUG, OAUG, ODTUG), while serving their focal member bases very well, did not have the necessary bandwidth to focus a spotlight on business intelligence and data warehousing issues and challenges. Thus in January 2003, the Desktop Conference was established to provide a venue where Oracle technology-based business intelligence and data warehousing professionals could network, increase their knowledge, and form a community of practice.

Going Forward in 2007 and DC2008

Desktop Conference 2008 will focus on business intelligence, data warehousing, and the technologies (J2EE, PL/SQL, Web services, and such) used to further their effectiveness within organizations. From a product perspective the SIG will be looking for papers that cover any of the products or product groupings below. You may be asking why we cover all these different products. It is because you, our members, have indicated that these are the BI products, issues, and challenges you are facing.

During the April Officers' meeting, it was agreed that the SIG would begin the following to increase networking opportunities and educational offerings to its members.

• Quarterly Webinars
• Space on the SIG's Web site
• To announce regional business intelligence related events
• For the Oracle BI group to post information and announcements
• For third party software companies to post information and announcements

Finally, I have loaded a document on this page, BI SIG: State of the SIG, if you are interested in reviewing the statistics that the SIG's officers have gathered about our members.

Faun deHenry
President
Business Intelligence SIG (BI SIG)