Are you currently involved in or would like to start a reporting initiative in your company?
In my experience, these can be extremely rewarding or disasterous if not handled properly.

The good news is that if done properly, delivering a successful reporting solution in your
organization will allow you to become the most revered and popular person in the company,
and FAST, I promise you! 

Successful reporting initiatives spread like wild-fire as everyone and I do mean EVERYONE
will be asking, no BEGGING you for reports. You will feel an almost celebrity status as
department heads, comptrollers, middle managers, and even C-level employees will be
fawning for your time. "Here comes Big-Daddy with the big bag of candy!" they'll say.
 
You know your reporting solution is successful especially when you attract the attention
of the C-levels (CEO, CIO, CFO, COO). To them, this stuff is like crack, only more addictive!
If you can deliver a reporing dashboard to one of these guys, you become what I affectionately
call a "Teflon-Don". Your rivals can try to throw negativity at you, but to no avail. It just won't
stick (hence the word "Teflon"). 

After successfully delivering reporting solutions I've had C-level guys calling my supervisor saying
things like: "I don't care what projects you need him to do, you will clear his plate immediately,
I need his undevided attention!". Bonus time! These guys will hold on to you like grim death too.
And why shouldn't they? You are supplying them with mission critical information they use to make
extremely important company-wide decisions while saving them countless hours of "fire-drill" style
of reporting/decision-making. And what does all that saved time buy them you ask?
More time on the golf course! Yeah, you want to be that guy that allows the "C levels" more time
hitting the long ball, trust me!
  
At that point you're like superman with brains minus the tights. It's called political capital of the
first order and mister let me tell you, that is pure GOLD! You will notice your co-workers and even
your managers treating you differently from that point on, I did. It's very rewarding, and a little funny too.

Here are a few industry-tested tips to getting a reporting solution off the ground in your organization today!

* Know the data! If you know the data, you will know how to turn that into information that
  decision makers can use. That's called adding business value! If you don't, learn it first.
  You will be much better prepared to defend the project when you know what makes the
  company tick.

* Develop some POCs (proof of concepts) in your spare time. You need a good initial selling tool 
  and a frame of reference to catapult your ideas!  Plus, doing this in your spare time will send a message 
  to your boss that you care about this stuff passionately and will do whatever it takes to make it a success.

* Make it visually appealing! Managers respond well to visuals. Don't we all though? Nothing sells like a 
  good visual of your vision, ah-hem, I mean, their vision!

* Get buy-in from the key people who can fund the project. They may be supervisors, department heads, 
   or even power users who can help influence the ones who hold the purse strings.

* Start slow, very slow.  I can't stress this point enough. No sudden movements here. These types 
   of projects can be politically charged to say the least. You don't want your project crushed before 
   you get it off the ground! I've had it happen before, it's a bummer.
    

* Go for the low handing fruit first! Shoot for a report that has the least chance of getting shot down.
  If there is a report you know will save your managers time and energy right off the bat, start with
  that one. It will greatly increase your odds for further development.

* Start the buzz early and often! Talking about the amount of time and energy you are going to save
  everyone is a great way to get the word around to achieve some initial buy-in before you even pitch it. 
  Just remember, the office grapevine extends to every corner of the company. This can be a good AND
  bad thing. Be careful of what you promise, and keep it positive!
       

Did you enjoy this article?
This topic and many more will be covered
in my new Reporting Services class.

Check it out, this class is awesome!
http://www.endtoendtraining.com/rs.aspx

I also do on-site training for SSIS, SSAS, and SSRS
www.PragmaticWorks.com

To view more of these articles, please visit my blog site at:

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