Question

Database reports provide us with the ability to further analyze our data, and provide it in a format that can be used to make business decisions. Discuss the steps that you would take to ensure that we create an effective report. What questions would you ask of the users?

Answer 1

Steps

1. Review, refine and re-engineer business processes —Process is defined as how information moves through the association and through the database. For example, we process membership dues, entering the key data elements, creating an invoice, entering payment against the invoice, printing a welcome letter, sending a welcome packet, and so on.

2. Develop Proper Training and Documentation — These are the issues most commonly complained about by association executives. Once a review of the business process is complete and the installation or upgrade has begun, training and documentation become vital.

3. Develop and Rigidly Adhere to Data Standards — If the information you store in your database is not entered accurately or uniformly, no amount of reporting, consulting, or crying is going to give you the information you need. This is where data standards come into play.

4. Continuously Collect Data — Depending on the industry or profession you serve, the addresses in your database may change as frequently as 5% per month. Build data collection into the process. Some of the more obvious data collection mechanisms are publication order forms, meeting registration forms, and an annual directory update.

5. Know What You Need and Want from Your Database — Understanding what you need from your database is not only key in the selection of your database but is essential to its continued effectiveness.

QUESTIONS

1. Where are the problems
2. What are the causes
3. What are the priorities