Olaug Skobba, Øyvind Remme and myself were members of the special interest group for Business intellignce at the Norwegian computer society (Dataforeningen). This post is based on an article published in Mediaplanet, years ago.

A Legacy of Connections

Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Norwegian Prime Minister, famously said, “Everything is connected to everything.”

Making good decisions in business requires understanding how everything is interconnected. But how can leaders predict outcomes if their data is inconsistent or scattered across departments?

The Need for Unified Data

Many businesses use Business Intelligence (BI) tools, but they are often introduced in silos—for example:

• Finance teams focus on budgets and risk management.
• Sales teams use customer analytics and forecasts.
• HR teams track workforce data.

While useful, these separate systems make it hard for leaders to see the whole picture. Decisions in one area, like procurement, can impact others, such as marketing or sales, yet these connections are often overlooked.

The Risks of Disjointed Systems

Disconnected BI systems cause real problems:

• Leadership meetings waste time resolving data inconsistencies.
• Errors arise from mismatched definitions, such as multiple meanings of “profit.”
• Shareholders lose confidence in leadership’s ability to provide clear insights.

Separate systems also increase costs, creating a “spreadsheet jungle” where information is processed manually and inconsistently.

A Unified Approach

To run a business effectively, leaders need to unify their data:

1. Centralize Information: Consolidate all data into one system.
2. Standardize Definitions: Ensure terms like “profit” and “customer” mean the same across departments.
3. Use Comprehensive BI Tools: Invest in solutions that connect all areas of the business.

By integrating BI systems, organizations can better understand cause-and-effect relationships, predict outcomes, and build trust with stakeholders.

The Takeaway

Unified data isn’t just a convenience—it’s essential for modern business. When everything is connected, your decisions need to be as well.