How do you prioritize BI requests from different departments?

1 Assess the value and urgency of each request

The first step to prioritize BI requests is to evaluate how important and time-sensitive each one is. You can use a simple matrix to rank the requests based on their value and urgency, such as high, medium, or low. Value refers to how much the request contributes to the organization's goals, strategy, or revenue. Urgency refers to how soon the request needs to be delivered or how critical it is for the decision-making process. For example, a high-value and high-urgency request might be a report that supports a strategic initiative with a tight deadline, while a low-value and low-urgency request might be a nice-to-have dashboard that can wait for a few weeks.

2 Communicate with the requesters and stakeholders

The second step to prioritize BI requests is to communicate with the requesters and stakeholders to understand their expectations, requirements, and feedback. You can use a BI intake form or a project management tool to collect and document the information you need, such as the purpose, scope, data sources, format, and delivery date of each request. You can also use these tools to update the requesters and stakeholders on the status, progress, and challenges of each request, and to manage any changes or issues that arise. By communicating clearly and regularly, you can avoid misunderstandings, conflicts, or delays, and ensure that the requesters and stakeholders are satisfied with the outcomes.

3 Align the requests with the BI strategy and roadmap

The third step to prioritize BI requests is to align them with the BI strategy and roadmap of your organization. The BI strategy and roadmap define the vision, goals, objectives, and initiatives of your BI function, as well as the resources, budget, and timeline available. By aligning the requests with the BI strategy and roadmap, you can ensure that you are delivering the most relevant, valuable, and impactful BI solutions for your organization, and that you are not wasting time or money on low-priority or redundant requests. You can also use the BI strategy and roadmap to communicate the value and benefits of your BI function to the requesters and stakeholders, and to justify your prioritization decisions.

4 Balance the workload and resources of your BI team

The fourth step to prioritize BI requests is to balance the workload and resources of your BI team. You need to consider the capacity, skills, and availability of your BI team members, and assign the requests accordingly. You can use a resource allocation matrix or a Gantt chart to plan and visualize the workload and resources of your team, and to identify any gaps, overlaps, or dependencies. You can also use these tools to monitor and track the performance and productivity of your team, and to adjust the workload and resources as needed. By balancing the workload and resources of your BI team, you can ensure that you are delivering the requests on time, on budget, and on quality, and that you are not overloading or underutilizing your team members.

5 Review and improve your BI prioritization process

The fifth step to prioritize BI requests is to review and improve your BI prioritization process. You need to evaluate how effective and efficient your BI prioritization process is, and how satisfied and engaged your requesters, stakeholders, and team members are. You can use metrics, surveys, feedback, or lessons learned to measure and analyze the results and outcomes of your BI prioritization process, and to identify any strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, or threats. You can also use these data and insights to improve your BI prioritization process, such as by streamlining the steps, automating the tasks, or updating the criteria. By reviewing and improving your BI prioritization process, you can ensure that you are continuously delivering the best BI solutions for your organization, and that you are adapting to the changing needs and expectations of your requesters, stakeholders, and team members.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?