Getting value from Business Intelligence requires a big-picture view of how information can and should be managed. In this Webcast, industry expert Mark Peco explains how many organizations suffer from a limited perspective on what constitutes decision support. He then offers some tips on how to make sure your company sees the big picture, and then moves carefully and thoughtfully toward realization of quality decision support.

Selecting a software vendor can be downright daunting, which is why savvy organizations employ a thoughtful framework to the selection process. As a former vendor co-founder and long-time IT analyst, Andy Hayler has seen and participated in the procurement cycle from several sides of the fence. In this special Learning Curve Webcast, Andy will share his time-tested methodology and framework for comparing and contrasting software vendors. His evaluation process includes a balance of technical, commercial, and functional criteria to seek a good match to the needs and constraints of your organization. The framework and the process positions you to quickly create a short-list of vendors and then to conduct a detailed evaluation of short-listed products. Purchasing tips will help you to save money at the procurement stage.

In today's increasingly competitive global marketplace, certification can help you separate from the pack! That's why eLearningCurve will soon roll out the Certified Information Management Professional Program. In this Learning Curve Webcast, you'll hear Dave Wells, Education Director for eLearningCurve, explain the nature and roadmap for this new certification program.

A well designed data model is the cornerstone to building business intelligence and data warehouse applications that provide significant business value. Effective data modeling results in transforming data into an enterprise information asset that is consistent, comprehensive and current. Data is transformed from operational or source systems into a data warehouse and often data marts or OLAP cubes for analysis. Register for this Learning Curve Webcast to hear data modeling expert Rick Sherman offer an overview of the fundamental techniques for designing a data warehouse, data marts or cubes that enable business intelligence reporting and analytics.

Professional education comes in many forms these days, including in-person conferences, Webcasts and eLearning. Each of these modes offers a unique value proposition, such as the networking value of conferences, the concise nature of Webcasts, and the in-depth content of eLearning. However, each mode also has drawbacks: conferences tend to be expensive; Webcasts often gloss over important subjects; and eLearning can lack the personal interaction of live events.

Conceptual Data Modeling using the UML standard is a key method for getting a handle on the data requirements of an organization. Effective conceptual data modeling results in maximum benefits from information assets by increasing shared use and avoiding redundancy. Data that is relevant, timely, consistent, and accessible has increased value to the organization.

Data Governance is a burgeoning discipline in the field of information management, as organizations move past Data Administration and into the world of multiple data owners, stewards, and specialists, ultimately culminating in executive level Data Officers. Data is now seen as an asset that must be effectively understood, captured, maintained, parsed, and collaborated upon by all levels of the organization. Thus there is great opportunity in Data Governance, but also the need for education and experience in the trenches. In that service, education specialist David Wells presents eLearningCurve’s Data Governance Curriculum.

Public and private organizations face a common challenge in resolving inconsistent and redundant data, which is often spread across departments, business units, and other divisional lines. While this problem is typically acknowledged and at least partially understood by those working within the organization, it typically takes IT and business specialists applying experientially informed skills to rectify the systems creating the bad data and create a high-quality data resource. Former DAMA President and Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient Mike Brackett has precisely the expertise and experience needed for successfully enacting Data Resource Quality Improvement projects. In this episode of eLearningCurve’s Webcast series, Mike gets down to brass tacks on the identification, definition, and impact of disparate data, as well as common architectural and managerial mistakes and best practices in pursuing Data Resource Quality Improvement.

Very few organizations have a well defined data strategy. In many cases, data is considered the province of the department that creates it and is often jealously guarded. A data strategy should result in the development of systems that pose less risk and provide a higher success rate. Furthermore, a data strategy can provide a CIO with an effective rationale to counter arguments for immature technology or competing data strategies that are inconsistent or otherwise suboptimal. Register for this Learning Curve Webcast to learn from expert data strategist Sid Adelman, who will outline the key elements to consider when designing a enterprise data strategy. He'll pay particular attention to the fundamental role of metadata: what it is, where to get it, how to capture it, and how to manage it over time. This Webcast is brought to you by eLearningCurve. Webcast duration is just 20 minutes, so don't be late! All events are archived.

Career planning for Information Management professionals has two distinct dimensions: knowing what you have to offer, and knowing what employers want. In this webcast, IT career advisor Jennifer Hay looks at both dimensions. A review of hot jobs in the Information Management industry paints a picture of what employers seek, followed by a look at the capabilities and skill sets you need to succeed in those job roles. Hay will then discuss her proven IT career assessment tool that explores the motivations, skills, talents, and preferences that make you unique as an IM professional. The assessment helps you understand what you do and why you do it well. The hot jobs review provides the perspective of what is needed. Matching the two can help you make the most of your career choices. Webcast attendees will receive free access to the assessment tool for a period of two weeks from Sept. 18 through October 2.