Helena Dudycz

Multi-criteria evaluation of the intelligent dashboard for SME managers based on scorecard framework

The article presents an approach to evaluate the Decision Support System applied in the InKoM project. The evaluation method is based on a scorecard framework, oriented towards Business Intelligence (BI) systems and projects dedicated to the management supporting of small and medium enterprises (SME). To design the method, known existing commercial and no commercial BI maturity models, usability standards, and scorecard frameworks have been analyzed and adapted to SMEs area. Notably, the scorecard framework was extended to the new evaluation criteria associated with innovative knowledge-based functions created in the InKoM project, especially such as ontologies of economic and financial knowledge, and visual navigation and exploratory interface based on topic maps. The main elements of the scorecard framework and usage in InKoM of multi-criteria evaluation are illustrated and discussed in this paper.

An Attempt of the Heuristic Evaluation of Visualization in Searching Economic Information in Topic Maps

The usefulness of economic indicators in assessing functioning of an enterprise depends on comprehension by decision-makers of semantic connections existing between ratios. Analysis of economic indicators with regard to semantic relations often has essential impact on formulating accurate conclusions. However, the knowledge of semantic connections and resulting from them information concerning functioning of an enterprise is often possessed only by experienced financial analysts. Topic map standard allows creating a model of knowledge representation, searching and acquiring unique information. The creation of topic map for the ontology of economic indicators facilitates inter alia analyzing economic ratios on account of semantic connections between them. In the semantic search in topic map the visualization plays important role. We have audited the heuristic evaluation of the visualization in searching information on economic indicators based application for Return on Investment indicator. The research with participation of users was carried out.

Process of Ontology Design for Business Intelligence System

Business Intelligence systems tend more and more towards semantically rich functionalities. One of the main artefacts to create a semantic network is the ontology. There are many methods describing the procedure of creating ontology for information solutions. The article presents the approach to the conceptualisation of the financial knowledge for a Business Intelligence system. The content of the knowledge is focused on essential financial concepts and relationships related to the management of small and medium enterprises (SME). That includes the illustration of the process of conceptualization of the financial ontology, which can be implemented in the Business Intelligence system.

Conceptual design of financial ontology

The article presents the approach to the conceptualization of the financial knowledge used for an Intelligent Dashboard for Managers. The content of the knowledge is focused on essential financial concepts and relationships related to the management of small and medium enterprises (SME). That includes the illustration of the conceptualization of the ontology. The designed ontology was split into six ontologies describing areas of Cash Flow at Risk, Comprehensive Risk Measurement, Early Warning Models, Credit Scoring, Financial Market, and General Financial Knowledge. The examples of the topic map of key financial indicators and their interpretation are given. The results of this research have been implemented in the Business Intelligence system.

Usability of Business Information Semantic Network Search Visualization

A semantic network based on an ontology of economic and financial indicators can serve as an interactive visual interface that allows decision-makers to search for information. The aim of this study is to validate the usability of visualization as it pertains to semantic searches in the analysis of economic and financial indicators. We applied two methods for evaluating the efficacy of user interfaces, those being a questionnaire of user interface satisfaction and a usability test. This study was executed according to our proposed research method, described herein. The evaluation of two visualization prototypes was carried out with participation of volunteers. The questionnaire results were analyzed based on basic statistical information. Results show, that participants whose background was only in economics or only in IT evaluated semantic search visualization highly, and indicated the fewest potential problems with use of this visual interface than participants with both economic and IT backgrounds.

Towards process-oriented ontology for financial analysis

The article presents an approach to integrate a business process knowledge of Decision Support Systems. It concerns two major aspects of the system, i.e. the formalization of processes predefined in Business Process Modeling Notation, the reuse of a domain ontology, and the analysis of economic and financial information. The described approach is a continuation of the construction of the intelligent cockpit for managers (InKoM project), whose main objective was to facilitate financial analysis and the evaluation of the economic status of the company in a competitive market. The current project is related to the design of smart decision support systems based on static (structural) and procedural knowledge. The content of the knowledge is focused on essential financial concepts and relationships related to the management of small and medium enterprises (SME). An experiment was carried out on real financial data extracted from the financial information system.

Attempt to extend knowledge of Decision Support Systems for small and medium-sized enterprises

The article presents a proposal to extend the functionality and knowledge of Business Intelligence systems to answer the requirements of managers of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It concerns two major aspects of the system, i.e. the interface that takes into account the level of knowledge of the manager, and supports the interpretation of economic and financial information using the built-in domain ontologies. The project is related to the design of smart decision support systems based on financial ontology and on the model of manager knowledge created by eye tracking analysis. An experiment was carried out on real financial data extracted from the database of Business Intelligent BINOCLE, developed by Bilander Co. To create a model of manager knowledge, a number of financial analysts, experts and economists were invited to analyze the pre-defined financial reports. Their tasks were observed and analyzed by the eye-tracking system StudioTM, Tobii. The logs of the system as well as the financial ontology have been used to develop the intelligent interface of a Decision Support System.

Semantic Approach to Financial Knowledge Specification - Case of Emergency Policy Workflow

The article presents an approach to integrate a business process knowledge in Decision Support Systems. The main research findings are related to the ontological and procedural issues of knowledge specification. The mathematical rigor used in process descriptions guarantees for precise definition of concepts and relationships in the domain knowledge. It concerns three major aspects of the system design, i.e. formalization of processes predefined in Business Process Modeling Notation, reuse of a domain ontology, and analysis of economic and financial information. Formally specified analytical processes and ontology allowed considerably minimize sources of ambiguity and confusion in the system design and implementation. The described approach is a continuation of the development of the intelligent cockpit for managers (InKoM project), whose main objective was to facilitate financial analysis and evaluation of economic status of the company. The current work and case studies are focused on specification of static (structural) and procedural knowledge of financial analysis in Small and Medium Enterprises. The content of the knowledge covers essential financial concepts and relationships related to the processes of emergency policy. An experiment has been carried out on real financial data extracted from the financial information system.

Extension of Intelligence of Decision Support Systems: Manager Perspective

The article presents an approach to extend the functionality and knowledge of Decision Support Systems to answer the requirements of managers of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It concerns two major aspects of the system, i.e. the interface that takes into account the level of knowledge of the manager, and the interpretation of economic and financial information using the built-in domain ontologies. The project is related to the design of smart decision support systems based on financial ontology and on the model of manager knowledge created by eye-tracking analysis. An experiment was carried out on real financial data extracted from the database of BINOCLE system, developed by Bilander Co. To create a model of manager knowledge, a number of financial analysts, experts and economists were invited to analyze the pre-defined financial reports. Their tasks were observed and analyzed by the eye-tracking system StudioTM, Tobii. The logs of the system as well as the financial ontology have been used to develop the intelligent interface of a Decision Support System.

Wielokryterialna ewaluacja systemu klasy BI dla MŚP oparta na podejściu BI Scorecard Framework

The article presents an approach to evaluating the Business Intelligence (BI) systems applied to the InKoM project. The evaluation method is based on a scorecard framework, oriented towards Decision Support Systems (DSS) and DSS projects dedicated to managers of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME). To design the method, known existing commercial and non-commercial BI maturity models, usability standards, and scorecard frameworks have been analyzed and adapted to the SMEs area. Notably, the scorecard framework was extended to the new evaluation criteria associated with innovative knowledge-based functions created in the InKoM project, especially such as ontologies of economic and financial knowledge, and visual navigation and exploratory interface based on topic maps. The selected elements of the scorecard framework and usage in InKoM multi-criteria evaluation are illustrated and discussed in this paper.