The Business Case

The transformation of the banking industry in South Eastern European (SEE) countries has been a dramatic and far-reaching transition process as a whole. The market has been opened for foreign investments and many local banks have been acquired by foreign, mostly Western European banks. In addition, entrance into the markets by foreign banks, while resolving many of the most burning issues facing bank supervisors, creates new challenges as well. Even though most foreign banks have taken the form of subsidiaries, and thus are clearly under the regulatory purview of SEE supervisors, there are important issues regarding information sharing and co-ordination between the SEE supervisors and the EU supervisors of the mother banks.

The Macedonian banking system failed to attract strategic foreign investments in the banking sector. This failure  can be partly explained by the lack of reforms and the legal framework in this segment of the economy, resulting the discouragement foreign investors and prominent foreign-owned banks. The present Macedonian Government is aware of the problem and is committed to resolving this issue. A new bank regulation has been prepared and is expected to be passed as a law in the coming months. According to the new (proposed) legislation, Macedonian banks will operate in compliance with the Basle Committee Core Principles and EU directives concerning the setting of minimum levels of capital adequacy together with mandatory adaptation of International Accounting Standards (IAS) by all banks.

Since the deadline for such demanding changes is approaching in the next few months Macedonian banks start looking for agile solutions which will be able to support the new bank legislation requirements.

Solution

Company I have working for, Pexim Solution offers the Tezauri™ Enterprise Banking Business Intelligence solution to resolve this issue. Tezauri™ is solution which using IBM IFW BDW models as a solution foundation and entirely implemented on the latest Microsoft Business Intelligence platform with SQL Server 2005, Microsoft Office Performance Point Server 2007, Share Point Portal Server 2007, and Microsoft Office. This solution is comprises on an  enterprise e data warehouse solution together with business and analytical models on top of data warehouse as well as several integrated domain specific applications.

Majority of Macedonian banks choose Tezauri as a solution which fully complies with the new legislation.

Project Implementation aspects

Simultaneous implementation of data warehouse is quite complex and comprehensive activity (simultaneous implementation in case described above, means six simultaneous data warehouse implementations). There is the list of prerequisites, beyond of standard data warehouse implementation success factors, required for successful accomplishment of this mission.

“Product oriented” instead of “project oriented” implementation

Most common approach in data warehouse implementations is “project oriented” approach which considers tailor made solution attuned to particular organization needs. Serial implementations turn out of question “project oriented approach” in terms of efficiency and effectiveness of implementation.  As an alternative, “product oriented approach” must be applied. What “product oriented approach” exactly means, what is the difference?

Answer could be given in one word – STANDARDIZATION.

IBM BDW Solution components Standardization

Efficiency and effectives of implementation of IBM BDW in six banks, which is the case here, requires standardization of following solution components:

Data model

Standardization of data model consists of definition of following logical parts: Staging database, System of Records, Summary Area and Analysis Area as well as Feedback area. Any of these parts should be used in each bank in their native or slightly customized way. Any of these models, capable to satisfy these criteria could be considered as successful.

ETL process

Besides standard features of “good” ETL system here is need to emphasize ability of ETL system for efficient and flexible mapping between operational sources and BDW entities. Key factor of success for that is quality of metadata model.

Classification model

Standardization of BDW Classification schemas and BDW classification values is crucial for serial implementations. Since that classification model essentially drives output (reports and analytics) it must be unique for as much as it is possible. Of course you need to consider differences in particular implementations, but you shoud try to minimize them. Otherwise, you will not be able to synergize implementations.

Project management

Project management for six simultaneous implementations is additional issue. Successful project management in this case considers right distinction between common activities for all projects and  particular activities on each project. Good planning and efficient resource management is something that is unquestionable in this case.

Conclusion

Efficient and effective simultaneous implementations of IBM BDW require “product oriented” instead of “project oriented” approach. From one hand that requires utilization of synergy of common components of the solution like: Data model, ETL Metamodel, standard classification model, etc. From other hand requires a lot of coordination as a part of project management activities.

Reference:

http://www.onwindows.com/Articles/Macedonian-banks-look-for-solution/3114/Default.aspx