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Integrating IBM SPSS Modeler with IBM Cognos – Case Study

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IBM SPSS offers a variety of integration options with other enterprise solutions, i.e., enterprise data warehouses, file systems, and business intelligence applications. In this article, we specifically focus on the integration with the IBM Cognos BI environment. As most of you are aware, IBM SPSS leverages the power of predictive analytics by allowing the user to examine the current state of their business, while at the same time providing a view of the future using advanced analytics techniques. With the use of the IBM Cognos BI integration point, the results are immediately available for IBM Cognos reporting, allowing for easy distribution to broad user communities.

In our previous article, we described the general workflow on how to import and export IBM Cognos packages from IBM SPSS Modeler. In this article, we will provide a simple case study using the standard IBM Cognos sample set to further illustrate the above mentioned integration.

Note:

-The integration is only available in IBM SPSS Modeler version 14.1 or higher.

-The supported IBM Cognos environments are version 8.4 and higher.

Providing Data to IBM SPSS from IBM Cognos

The IBM Cognos BI source node enables data miners to read data directly from IBM Cognos Framework Manager, including relational, dimensionally-modeled relational (DMR), and OLAP sourced packages.

In this case study, we select the Go Sales (query) package from IBM Cognos samples and use the following items from the query subject as our source data:

Go Sales (query)

  • Sales (query)

    • Sales

      • Revenue

    • Time

      • Year

      • Month Key

      • Month

      • Date

Before choosing a Framework Manager package to import the data, the user needs to establish a connection to the IBM Cognos server by providing the dispatcher URL and user credentials.

Conduct Data Mining Analysis in IBM SPSS Modeler

The source data we bring in from IBM Cognos contains revenue data for years 2004-2007. The objective of this study is to use advanced modeling techniques to discover trends behind the revenue data and predict future revenues. The following stream in IBM SPSS Modeler uses time series analysis to analyze the patterns in the monthly historical data and project those patterns to determine a range within which future values of the series are likely to fall.

 

 

 

In this example, we extend the forecast of the expected revenue to the next four time periods. The following output from IBM SPSS is a time series graph and shows the predicted (green line) vs. actual (blue line) revenue for each month between Jan, 2004 – Jul, 2007 and the projected revenue for Aug – Nov 2007.

 

 

 

 

Exporting IBM SPSS Predictive Results into IBM Cognos BI

The end results from an IBM SPSS Modeler stream can be exported back to the IBM Cognos BI environment, including both the transformed and scored data based on predictive modeling. In this case study, we will export the scored dataset of time series analysis into a database table called “Predicted_Sales” and generate an IBM Cognos package on the Cognos server reflecting the new database table.

Once the export is complete, we could use IBM Cognos Report Studio to create a visual report based on the exported data, including the predictions and confidence interval values for consumption by a broad user base.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Through this case study, we showcase how a user can combine the predictive analytic capabilities of IBM SPSS Modeler with business intelligence features of IBM Cognos BI. For any additional questions regarding the integration and its implementation, please contact us at the Ironside Group.

 

 

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Building Effective IBM Cognos Active Reports: Part 1

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Active Reports are a new type of report in IBM Cognos 10 that combine data and layout into a single file. This file can be distributed and viewed offline, allowing reports to be reviewed “on the go”. Active Reports also contain a great deal of animation and display functionality, making them ideal for dashboards and other high-level reports where style and graphical sophistication are important.

The basic components of an Active Report are the same as any other Report Studio report – lists, crosstabs, charts, etc. However, the way these components communicate and interact with each other is completely new. Designing an Active Report requires an understanding of these interactions, and of how Active Reports are generated by the Cognos report service.

 Active Report Variables

Active Report elements communicate using Active Report Variables. While there are many types of functionality that can be created, all active report interaction features are based on two types of communication:

–Set a variable when the user interacts with a control (select a drop down, click on a chart element, etc.)

–React to a variable being set (select a card, filter a list, enable a button)

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Business Intelligence on the Cloud

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Do you need a business analytics platform yesterday? Is your IT team overloaded? Do you want your business analytics environment built on best practices and managed by the best in the in the business? If so, allow Ironside to host and manage your business analytics environment. We will manage everything from the OS, to the database, to the IBM Cognos application based on your needs through our Managed Platform and Application Services.

Our Managed Platform Services (MPS) provide enterprise-level, secure, scalable provisioning of IT services to fit your requirements. Our MPS offering is hosted in a SAS 70/SSAE16 compliant data center, using industry leading technology. Our clients work with our dedicated managed services team to customize our offerings to fit your needs. In addition, we offer recommendations along the way to determine the optimal environment based on expected usage patterns.

Just some of the services we offer include:

  • Dedicated Firewall

  • Virtual Private Cloud

  • A Shared Management Environment

  • Patch Management

  • Change Management

  • System and Application Monitoring

  • Disaster Recovery

All platform services utilize industry best practices to provide the most stable, scalable, and secure environment available.

Our Managed Application Services (MAS) leverage our expertise in business intelligence and the IBM Cognos platform to provide best-of-breed support for your solution. Some of the services we provide using Ironside’s best practices include:

  •  Cognos Installation and Configuration

  • Cognos Security

  • High Availability

  • Data Warehousing

The Ironside MAS allows access to Ironside’s expert IBM Cognos architects, many of whom have over 10 years of experience implementing IBM Cognos solutions in some of the country’s largest companies.

Please contact us today for further information on how we can craft a solution that reduces your total cost of ownership and administration, while providing greater capability, performance, and flexibility.

 

IBM Performance Events 2012

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Today’s business moves at hyper speed. Your response to both opportunities and emerging threats must be just as swift. Making smarter, fact-based decisions requires more than analysis; it requires deep, customer-centric, context-rich understanding. 

That’s what IBM Performance 2012 is all about—the increasingly vital role of analytics to recognize and even anticipate evolving trends. At Performance 2012, you’ll discover how IBM can help you deliver critical insight, faster, to stakeholders across the enterprise.

Here’s some of what you’ll learn:

— How you can profit from analytics

— Techniques for identifying and prioritizing strategic investments

— Modeling approaches that help cut costs and seize opportunity

— Sneak peeks at upcoming technologies—and how to prepare for their arrival

— Customer successes using analytics and the lessons learned

The Ironside Group is a proud sponsor of the IBM Performance Events in the following cities:

April 4, 2012 – New York, NY

https://www-950.ibm.com/events/wwe/grp/grp004.nsf/v16_enrollall?openform&seminar=QBBGWPES&locale=en_US&S_TACT=BP_IronsideGroup

April 17, 2012 – Boston, MA

https://www-950.ibm.com/events/wwe/grp/grp004.nsf/v16_enrollall?openform&seminar=3DEA5UES&locale=en_US&S_TACT=BP_Ironside

May 24, 2012 – Atlanta, GA

https://www-950.ibm.com/events/wwe/grp/grp004.nsf/v16_enrollall?openform&seminar=5D9AJXES&locale=en_US&S_TACT=BP_IronsideGroup

June 7, 2012 – Hartford, CT

https://www-950.ibm.com/events/wwe/grp/grp004.nsf/v16_enrollall?openform&seminar=E3FAZNES&locale=en_US&S_TACT=BP_IronsideGroup

To attend one of the IBM Performance events, click on the link  next to your preferred location and register for FREE today! We hope to see you there.

 

 

Ironside Group’s Hosting & Managed Services Offerings

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Traditional thinking when considering an enterprise business intelligence software purchase is for IT own it, operate it, and be wholly responsible for everything involved with it.  Factor in a challenging economy, little room for adding headcount, and internal resources spread thin on multiple projects.  If this seems like too much of a burden to undertake, but you’d still like to reap the benefits of an enterprise BI solution then it may be time to think outside the box and explore the idea of having your solution hosted and managed externally.

As we work with our customers, one important thing we have observed is that line of business customers in organizations of all sizes are trying to become less reliant on IT and more self-sufficient. Their major concern is the amount of internal resources and infrastructure they will need to dedicate to a solution. Although IBM designs their products to be easy to manage internally, sometimes having dedicated resources to manage the solution is not feasible.

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IBM Cognos TM1 Integration with IBM Cognos BI

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What are the IBM Cognos TM1 Integration Points?

IBM Cognos TM1 is fast becoming a critical component of the IBM business analytics suite of offerings. As the application becomes more prevalent in the industry, we are seeing more and more customers inquiring about the integration points between IBM Cognos TM1 and the IBM Cognos BI suite of tools. There are six common integration points between TM1 9.5.2 and IBM Cognos BI:

-IBM Cognos BI Security
-Utilization of previously developed TM1 Web content within the Cognos Connection interface through TM1 Portlets
-TM1 cubes as a data source within the IBM Cognos BI environment
-TM1 Widgets
-TM1 cubes as a source within the IBM Cognos BIA studio
-IBM Cognos TM1 Package Connector to access IBM Cognos Framework Manager packages

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Ironside Group Heads South for Cognos Insight & March Madness Roadshow

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Self-service or personal analytics is in high demand yet studies indicate business intelligence adoption continues to be a challenge?  Business users need an easy way to combine and analyze data in real time that helps them make more informed decisions to improve financial performance.

On February 7th, IBM announced its new data discovery solution, IBM Cognos Insight.  Discovery analytics empowers business users to import multiple sources of data (Excel, etc.) to easily explore, visualize and interact with data, perform scenario analyses and share insights. IBM Cognos Insight helps transform ever growing amounts of data into more useful and actionable information. IBM Cognos Insight can be used stand alone on your desktop or become part of your Cognos Express or Enterprise deployment.

Attend an IBM Cognos Insight March Madness Tour Stop

Join us in a city near you for a short presentation on this exciting new offering that truly differentiates IBM business analytics from the rest.  Lunch or dinner will be served and schedule permitting, enjoy viewing the March Madness basketball tournament.

If you are interested in learning more about these events, please reach out to Kristin Brown at kbrown ironsidegroup .

The Importance of Planning Ahead

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As a new year approaches, new projects and initiatives within organizations of all types and sizes begin to surface. In order to ensure on-time completion and delivery of projects, it is crucial for organizations to always be looking ahead. As many IT teams are already feeling the squeeze of a heavy workload, managing expectations of business sponsors can be difficult.

Recently, Ironside Group spent time working with a life sciences organization in Massachusetts on an upgrade to Cognos 10. Although the initiative is slated to begin in early 2012, Ironside Group made it a point to begin the process in October to ensure on-time delivery for this time sensitive project. Since Ironside Group had no previous relationship with the client, Ironside made it a point to better understand their business by meeting with key business units within the organization who rely on Cognos daily. With IT’s help, Ironside quickly understood the importance of Cognos within the organization and started to generate an upgrade project plan. Read more

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Cloud Solutions for IBM Cognos Business Analytics

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The Ironside Group invites you to reduce the burden on your IT and accelerate your time to value by hosting your IBM Cognos Business Analytics application on our cloud computing environment.

When an organization begins to embark upon a Business Analytics initiative, they face several challenges including budget, lack of experienced resources and negotiations between the line of business and an overburdened IT department. In an effort to bridge the gap between line of business and IT, reduce the total cost of ownership and accelerate the time to value, The Ironside Group now offers a scalable, secure and reliable enterprise class cloud computing environment. Read more

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IBM Cognos Tabbed Report Design

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Often times developers will get a request to create several different variations of a single report. While this can be done with user prompting or even multiple versions of a report, another option would be to create tabs within a report which would allow for the user to easily switch between variations. In this month’s tech tip we’ll go over how to create this using drill-throughs, a string variable and a conditional block.

The first step is to identify what tabs you’ll want to display. Each one of the tabs will need to be set up individually. In our example (sample included) we’ll use the seven days of the week.

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