How Fluffy is the Cloud ?: Cloud Intelligence for a Not-For-Profit

TL;DR

This paper examines the deployment of Business Intelligence in the Cloud for a not-for-profit organization, highlighting technical, organizational, and governance challenges and proposing a conceptual framework for effective adoption.

Contribution

It introduces a novel conceptual framework for governance in Cloud Intelligence deployment tailored for not-for-profit organizations.

Findings

Identified key technical and organizational challenges in Cloud BI adoption.

Developed a governance framework to maximize benefits for NFPs.

Case study insights into Cloud Intelligence implementation in an Australian NFP.

Abstract

Business Intelligence (BI) is becoming more accessible and less expensive with fewer risks through various deployment options available in the Cloud. Cloud computing facilitates the acquisition of custom solutions for not-for-profit (NFP) organisations at affordable and scalable costs on a flexible pay-as-you-go basis. In this paper, we explore the key technical and organisational aspects of BI in the Cloud (Cloud Intelligence) deployment in an Australian NFP whose BI maturity is rising although still low. This organisation aspires to Cloud Intelligence for improved managerial decision making yet the issues surrounding the adoption of Cloud Intelligence are complex, especially where corporate and Cloud governance is concerned. From the findings of the case study, a conceptual framework has been developed and presented which offers a view of how governance could be deployed so that NFPs gain maximum leverage through their adoption of the Cloud.