URFA completed implementation of a BI system on a technology platform of IBM

On July 20, 2015 the Khosta group constructed the system of the business analysis and forecasting of KPI for Ural Federal University^[1].

Project Tasks

The project began in 2013 and the university experienced difficulties assembled, the analysis and forecasting of the key indicators influencing positions in the world rankings. Information on quoting of scientific articles, number of foreign teachers and researches was stored in numerous information systems. Employees spent a lot of time and forces on the analysis of separate data, identification of interrelations between them and forecasting. Excess number of indicators and techniques of calculations complicated already difficult work of analysts. In a situation of control of KPI from the International council of the 5-100 project, URFA decided to implement the system of the business analysis IBM Cognos. For creation of a system invited Khosta Group.

URFA, 2013

Khosta Group suggested to create the multistage system of indicators to URFA: from strategic KPI to primary data. Advantage of such architecture – an opportunity to model different scenarios and to predict their outcome. For example, experts can analyze as level variation of quoting will affect future positions of the university in ratings.

"The complexity of similar tasks is that without reliable primary data it is impossible to build qualitative forecasts. For example, for an indicator of number of articles on one research associate, it is necessary to know publications and the faculty. To receive these data, it is necessary to automate all processes, and it is seldom possible technically or reasonablly economically. In this case, we suggest to load data into uniform storage from templates of input Excel using special connectors", - Vlad Alekseev, the commercial director of Khosta Group told.

Project Results

"Khosta Group created for the university an online monitoring system, forecasting and management of KPI. Being guided on color indicators, we can estimate at a single glance what indicators are normal and where additional control is required. When modeling scenarios it is possible to adjust separate parameters and at once to see in what results in the future it will result. For example, what will be the rating of the university if we increase number of research associates. What is especially important, a system warns what other indicators are influenced by this change, for example, number of scientific publications. There is an analysis from the return: it is possible to specify target value which aims to reach the university and to specify what parameter needs to be picked up. For example, how many it is necessary to write scientific articles to enter TOP 100 of the world universities. And all this in the online mode. Instead of several weeks on complex analysis several hours leave. We are happy with the received results, we are going to develop further a system and to increase its opportunities", - Dmitry Melnik, the head of department of strategic development and marketing of Ural Federal University noted.

A system covers one million indicators and helps to control achievement of goals of the program of increase in prestige of Russian education on the world scene "5-100".

Notes