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Standard Reports

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k Thiagarajan
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8 views4 pages

Standard Reports

Uploaded by

k Thiagarajan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Standard Reports

Standard reports are predefined, structured reports with a fixed format and are often parameter-driven.
These reports are typically prerun or scheduled to run at regular intervals (e.g., daily, weekly, monthly)
and made available to users without requiring ad hoc customization. These reports form the backbone of
BI applications by consistently delivering key performance and operational metrics across business
units.
Although they may seem mundane, standard reports provide essential, structured insight into core
business functions. They offer a consistent view of historical and operational data, enabling decision-
makers to monitor trends, performance, and exceptions.

Examples of Standard Reports


Different industries rely on tailored standard reports to gain insights. Some examples include:
• Sales and Marketing: YTD (Year-to-Date) Sales vs. Forecast by Sales Rep, Campaign
Conversion Rate
• Telecom/Subscription Services: Monthly Churn Rate by Service Plan
• Retail and Promotions: Direct Mail Response Rates by Promotion and Product
• Healthcare: Patient Readmission Rate by Department
• Manufacturing: Inventory Turnover by Product Line

Components of a Standard Reporting System


A functional standard reporting system includes multiple technology components:
A. Report Design Tool
• Used by IT professionals or skilled business users to define the report structure, layout, filters,
and data sources.
• Should support drag-and-drop interfaces, visualization components, and parameter controls.
B. Management Services
These services handle:
• Report storage
• Execution scheduling (e.g., daily sales report at 6 AM)
• Security (who has access to what)
C. Navigation Portal
• A central access point for end-users to find and launch reports.
• Should support categorization, search, filtering, and possibly subscriptions to reports.

4. Designing the Reporting System


Standard report design should begin soon after business requirements are gathered, not at the end of
the data warehouse project. Designing reports includes the following steps:
A. Create the Target Report List
1. Gather all possible report ideas during user interviews or workshops.
2. Assign each candidate report:
o A name and description
o A business value rating (1 to 10)
o An effort-to-build rating
3. Prioritize reports with business users.
4. Select 10 to 15 high-value, low-effort reports for initial delivery.

B. Create the Standard Template


Establish a uniform look-and-feel. The template should define:
• Report title, name, and category
• Report body with column and row headers
• Data formatting rules (e.g., currency, percentage, precision)
• Colors, fills, subtotal and total formatting
• Page layout, numbering, orientation
• Header/footer with run date, source, and confidentiality
• DW/BI reference or logo
• Report file name and metadata

C. Define Metadata and User Interaction


Metadata may include:
• User inputs (variables, drill downs)
• Report calculations and logic
• Security roles and permissions
• Delivery mechanism (email, portal, printer)
• Execution schedule
• Output formats (PDF, Excel, HTML)

D. Create Report Specifications


Each report needs:
• A mock-up (visual layout with placeholders)
• A user interaction list (e.g., variables, filters, drilldowns)
• Detailed documentation on:
o Data sources
o Calculations
o Exceptions or exclusions
o Parameter definitions
o Navigation links or cross-references
Use symbolic notation for mock-ups:
• < >: User-entered variable
• <<>>: Drillable field
• {}: Application-inserted value
• \\ \\: Link to other reports or help docs
• (): Page break fields
• [ ]: Template notes

5. Navigation Framework (BI Portal)


Once you define the report set:
• Group reports by business process or domain (e.g., Sales, HR, Inventory).
• Design a logical hierarchy in the portal for users to quickly locate reports.
• This framework should mirror the data warehouse bus matrix.

6. Conducting User Reviews


Before final development:
• Validate the top-priority reports with stakeholders.
• Confirm the clarity and completeness of report specs.
• Review the navigation portal for usability.
• Encourage user involvement and feedback.

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