In the Predicts 2012: business intelligence still subject to non-technical challenges report, Gartner estimates that by 2014 over 70% of BI initiatives still won’t align analytics completely with enterprise business drivers and, therefore, fail.

That rate is even worse than the 19/43 drivers who didn’t complete all 200 laps of the 2013 Daytona 500.

So, what do the 30% BI success stories and 56% cross-the-finish-liners have in common? All five key T’s.

Let’s break down the 2013 Daytona 500 champion, who had all five keys:

“We work really hard … to prepare for the superspeedway races. We put a great product out there.… I think what we have above and beyond everybody else is the desire to go out and win races. We’ve got 500‑plus employees at Hendrick Motorsports. When they all want to go out and win races (and) you put guys like this [Jimmie Johnson] behind the seat, you’re going to see magic happen” (nascar.com).

–       Crew Chief Chad Knaus

Tools

 

 

 

 

 

Talent

The winner, Jimmie Johnson, has proven talent and experience:

• 400 starts in the NASCAR Spring Cup Series
• Second Daytona 500 victory
• Five-time NASCAR champion

 

Technique

“The work of Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus is the gold standard in the NASCAR garage. They think of everything, including the risk-reward factor of running a new-generation car in an unruly pack during testing sessions at Daytona. So while others tore up cars and engines and just about everything else — see Edwards, Carl — Johnson’s 48 Lowe’s Chevy remained pristine leading up to the 500.”

“‘I know it was pretty boring for Jimmie from time to time,’ said Knaus. ‘He was running laps by himself when there were packs of 10 cars running around, but we felt that was the best way to understand this new generation of race car’” (thedailyworld.com).

Teamwork

What is the secret to Hendrick Motorsports’ success?

• “Mr. Hendrick and the people he gets to make this place go.” – Kasey Kahne
• “People and passion in what they do.” – Jeff Gordon
• “The people; it’s all about the people.” – Crew Chief Kenny Francis
• “We say we’re driving performance together. It’s everybody working together.” – Rick Hendrick

Tenacity – The Drive to Win

• Hendrick Motorsports has a NASCAR record 13 owner’s championships and 14 overall
• Roster of top drivers Kasey Kahne, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
• Hendrick is second on NASCAR’s all-time Cup wins list (1949-present) and leads all owners in modern-era victories (1972-present)
• His Cup-level teams have won at least one race each year since 1986 – the longest active streak – and averaged nearly 10 wins annually during the last decade. (hendrickperformance.com)

Five T’s for BI Success

That formula for winning the Daytona 500 should also apply when it comes to “taking the lead” in business intelligence. As seen by Hendrick Motorsports, success is not an accident; success is a result of bringing the right elements together for a winning combination.

In business, BI is more than a technology experiment; it is an essential element in institutionalizing actionable analytics. When the goal is to create competitive advantage, the ability to make accurate, data-informed decisions is a key to driving the business forward. Those decisions are made by teams who blend the right tools, talent and techniques together and have the tenacity to overcome obstacles.

DSS is made to be on such a team.