All Rights Reserved 2003 - 2007 Higher E d Analytics TM Higher E d Analytics TM Business Intelligence for Higher Education Version 3.0 – The Next Generation

All Rights Reserved 2003 - 2007

HigherHigherEEd Analyticsd AnalyticsTMTM

Business Intelligence for Higher EducationBusiness Intelligence for Higher Education

Version 3.0 – The Next GenerationVersion 3.0 – The Next Generation

Product UpdateProduct Update

[email protected]@istrategysolutions.com


Discussion OutlineDiscussion Outline

• Overview and Status Update• Data Model• ETL/Stored Procedures

– Re-engineering of “the plumbing”

• Analysis Services 2005– Unified Data Model

• Upgrade/Migration Process


Product Line Status & RoadmapProduct Line Status & Roadmap(Version 3.0 Architecture / SQL Server 2005 Platform)(Version 3.0 Architecture / SQL Server 2005 Platform)

PeopleSoft

Student ReleasedQ3 2007

Financial AvailableDec 2007

Advancement AvailableJan 2008

HR Q1 2008

Financial Aid Q2 2008

Grants TBD


Beta and Production InstallationsBeta and Production Installations

• Beta Version Installations (Sep 2007)– Stony Brook University - Student, Financials– MICA - Student

• Production Installations– StoneyBrook - Student– MICA (new installation) - Student (PS 9.0

certified)– Capella (new installation) - Student– UMBC - Student


iStrategy Driving Principles for iStrategy Driving Principles for Continuous ImprovementContinuous Improvement

1. Deliver more information• Both push and pull• Shared “collective wisdom” of all customers

2. Optimize efficiency of configuration, maintenance, extension and customization

3. Find additional ways to leverage the information


Version 3.0 - Drivers for ChangeVersion 3.0 - Drivers for Change

1. Major innovation in core technology infrastructure (i.e., SQL Server 2005) provides new enabling features• e.g., Analysis Services 2005 Unified Data Model

2. Opportunity for improvements to first generation product based on 4 years of experience• Data Model, ETL Process, Administration

3. Opportunity to improve product development lifecycle and maintenance efficiency• Time to market for new products• Installation/configuration efficiency• Customization and maintenance efficiency


HigherEd Analytics – HigherEd Analytics – Components & InfrastructureComponents & Infrastructure

RelationalData Warehouse

SQL Server

RelationalData Warehouse

SQL Server

MS Analysis Services

OLAP Cubes

MS Analysis Services

OLAP CubesBI Reporting

Tool

BI ReportingTool DashboardDashboard

SecuritySecurityHigherEd AnalyticsTM ApplicationHigherEd AnalyticsTM ApplicationData

ModelsETL SourceExtraction

ETL StoredProcedures

OLAPCubes

StarterReports

KPI’s DashboardTemplates

SecuritySecurity

Version 2.x Core Technology

SQL Server Analysis Services ProClarity iStrategy 2000 2000 Dashboard

Version 3.0 Core Technology

SQL Server Analysis Services ProClarity + Performance 2005 2005 Reporting Services Point


SQL Server 2005 Data Model ChangesSQL Server 2005 Data Model Changes

• Added new “many-to-many” relationships using new AS2005 feature– e.g., Student Groups, Service Indicators

• New Dimensions– approximately 175 total dimensions/ attributes in the model

(nearly double).• Some additional fact tables - e.g., Class Instruction• New Dimensional attribute fields added to the relational

dimension tables– e.g., Student attributes, Program/Plan attributes, audit trail

• New MetaData documentation tool called SQLSpec– Replaces CaseStudio– Metadata stored in the database as extended properties,– Metadata edit feature directly through the documentation

tool (customers can enhance the delivered meta data)• Renamed all Relational Database Objects using more

“report friendly” table and column names


SQL Server 2005 ETL:SQL Server 2005 ETL: “Re-engineering the Plumbing” “Re-engineering the Plumbing”

1. Improve daily DW build cycle efficiency– 50% faster load times (e.g., 4 hours to 2 hours)

2. Improve ease of application configuration and maintenance:– New application configuration web forms– Development templates for new dimensions

3. Enhance the logging engine and load status report

4. Enhanced edits (Data Quality Firewall module) including user configurable edits and controls

5. Utilize new SQL Server 2005 features:– Try… Catch… error handling – Common Language Runtime (CLR) functions – SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) replaces DTS


Analysis Services 2005: BackgroundAnalysis Services 2005: Background

• AS 2005 is a completely new product compared to AS 2000. Based on new Unified Data Model (UDM)– New Terminology: Attributes, Related Attributes, Data

Source Views, Measure Groups, Perspectives• Data Source Views

– Provide a layer of abstraction between the data source (i.e. relational DW) and the cube

– Allow multiple fact tables in one cube– Can leverage multiple data sources (named queries) in

addition to actual fact tables– Allow custom fields through Named Calculations (i.e., virtual

columns)• Attributes and User Defined Hierarchies

– Dimensions are no longer the key to navigation, it’s dimensional attributes (organized by dimension)

– Attributes and User Defined Hierarchies can be placed anywhere for flexible reporting


Cube

Supercube−combine multiple

star schemas (fact tables)

AS 2005 UDM ArchitectureAS 2005 UDM Architecture

Data Source View- Logical Model- Supports Views and

Calculations

Class Schedule

AdmissionsDegreeAwards

StudentTerm

Admissions

ClassSchedule

Relational Database(Data Source) Degree

Awards

Perspectives – Logical “view”

of cube


Analysis Services 2005: ImpactAnalysis Services 2005: Impact

• AS Benefits: – The Unified Data Model (UDM) opens the door to solve

more complex information problems– Enables a convergence of OLAP and relational attribute

reporting in an OLAP report– Enables scripted database changes that will enable

iStrategy to provide customers with version upgrade scripts as we introduce new functionality

• The impact: – It’s a complete OLAP redesign for iStrategy– More complexity in AS2005 with a totally different user

interface (outside customer training recommended)– Manual upgrade path for custom enhancements made

to 2.x version


BI Reporting (The Front End)BI Reporting (The Front End)

• ProClarity– Minimal ProClarity Functionality Changes in 6.3, but a

lot more information available for reporting

• Microsoft Reporting Services– iStrategy will introduce some standard relational

reporting through Microsoft Reporting Services (no additional cost for Reporting Services)

• Microsoft Performance Point– Released Oct 2007– All customers get access to Performance Point at no

additional cost– Q1 2008 – new iStrategy Performance Point

Dashboard templates– Customers should assess capabilities and migration

benefits (vs. iStrategy Dashboard)


Installation/Migration QuestionsInstallation/Migration Questions

• What is the upgrade process for the new version? – Automated migration not feasible due to quantum changes– New installation of version 3.0 will be required

• Is there is any additional licensing cost for the new version software?– No, software is included in annual support– Consulting services for upgrade installation will be at standard

daily rate

• Can customers install the upgrade themselves, or does iStrategy need to install the product?– Since it’s a complete re-installation, iStrategy needs to install the

new version baseline– Customers can reapply customizations

• How long will the old versions be supported?– TBD, but we would like for everyone to upgrade by June 30, 2008


Upgrade/Migration PlanningUpgrade/Migration Planning

• Required Infrastructure – SQL Server 2005 server• Planning/Upgrade Process

– Debrief and migration planning meeting (including in annual support)

– Services Procurement paperwork (PO)– New baseline installation (by iStrategy) [1-2 days]– Technical training on new architecture [1 day]– Re-application of customizations to baseline, as required

(iStrategy or Customer) [1 day for most customers]– Report migration (Customer)– Frozen Census Version data – to be determined

• Scheduling– iStrategy is ready to schedule installations, but the schedule is

busy– Customers may contact Matt Kelly or me for Student (Sean Mallin

for Financials) to get on the calendar for installation


Enhanced Support OptionEnhanced Support Option

• Consulting Support– Remote support for application use, design, operation

or customization (does not include any custom software development)

– Up to four (4) hours per day and twelve (24) hours per month

• Software Upgrade Support– One standard upgrade installation per year performed

by iStrategy

• Additional Cost (in addition to current standard support)– 15% of license, with a minimum of $10K per module


Q&AQ&A

Documents

All Rights Reserved 2003 - 2007 Higher E d Analytics TM Higher E d Analytics TM Business Intelligence for Higher Education Version 3.0 – The Next Generation