BI Manager is a robust integrated package that provides powerful facilities to effectively document and maintain Cognos Business Intelligence deployments.

The main features are listed below.

a. Metadata Manager

b. Change Control with Help Desk

c. Project Management

d. Resource Allocation

e. Budget Vs. Actual Hours, Costs

f. Hardware/Software Documentation

g. Knowledge Base and Support Call History

h. PPES-IWR Auditor

Benefits to the features listed above:

a. Metadata Manager– BI Manager provides the ability to import Impromptu Reports and .iqd’s, and then create a Report Spec automatically. The report SQL is parsed into Business Elements, which become “building blocks” for reports. Then a report spec is created which shows which Business Elements are used in the report and which defined User Groups have access. The Report Spec can be distributed to report consumers. When all reports have been imported, reports can be printed which shows the elements used in each report, or which reports contain a particular element. Element change history is also preserved. This is beneficial when changing Impromptu catalogs and reports, or when the underlying database changes. Impromptu Reports can also be imported as Data Targets. Data Targets are defined as data mart tables. This will allow rapid documentation of Data Mart table structures.

b. Change Control with Help Desk – BI Manager contains a full-featured help desk module, which allows administrators to log request calls. The calls are detailed, assigned a developer, and tracked. Objects (files) can be associated with each request, along with Metadata changes, with check-in/check-out. Change history is kept on each Object when the request is satisfied. Tracking reports for requests are included. This feature is useful for support of Cognos reports and cubes in a disciplined Change Control process.

c. Project Management – BI Manager provides a full-featured Project Management module. Multiple projects can be tracked. Tasks can be defined with dependencies, and moved between Projects. A Work Log is provided for developers and outside consultants, with full security, which allows them to log work, and then tie their work to the Tasks they are assigned to. This allows for fully detailed status reporting on Projects. Also has the ability to create Project Tasks from request calls inputted into the Help Desk, for ongoing projects.