Business Intelligence For Dummies®

Author's Acknowledgments

BI belongs to the world, but this book, its concepts and arrangement, belong in spirit to technology author and BI guru Alan R. Simon. His ideas form Business Intelligence For Dummies' foundation, and his initiative led ultimately to its creation and publication. I was fortunate enough to have Mr. Simon's input and guidance throughout the writing process.

As is the case with any book, the creation of this one was an extended collaborative effort. It's a collection of ideas, definitions, anecdotes, examples, and practices from various points in the technology field. To write a book on BI requires putting a lot of thumbtacks into the virtual map; I cover a lot of ground in a number of subjects. Aiding that journey were Meg Dussault at Cognos and Steve Robinson at Autotrader.com.

I also owe a debt of gratitude for the BI team at Brierley + Partners, Inc that contributed advice and material for this book: Dominick Burley, Craig Nelson, Tim Lepple, and Jason Canada offered guidance on a number of topics. Others who helped and supported along the way were Jennifer Jaynes, Robert Owen, Pete Davies, and Bill Swift.

My friends and family have encouraged me throughout the process, offering inspiration, guidance, and support as I assembled this book. Mad props also go to Christopher Shope who donated his laptop, among other things, to this cause.

My agent Matthew Wagner has been a rock of stability in this occasionally tumultuous process. And I would be remiss if I did ...