Decision Support Tools

IR&DS provides users access to data to create their own reports as they need them.  The Decision Support Services Team within IR&DS has created and maintains its own datamart (called the Decision Support System: DSS) that contains data from Stanford’s major administrative systems, including Oracle Financials, PeopleSoft, FAAS and SPIDERS.  Data from these systems can be combined to, for example, link faculty advising with research proposals.  The DSS datamart also contains legacy systems’ data from NSI, CHRIS, GFS, and SUFIN. 

Two tools are available to access the DSS datamart.  The most frequently used and most user-friendly is Business Objects.  The other, which requires basic knowledge of relational database concepts and techniques, is Hyperion Interactive Reporting.  If you would like to have access to the DSS datamart, please contact a member of the IR&DS team.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Access to DSS tools is granted by a manager who will vouch that you have authority to view the kind of data you desire to see via DSS.

Have your manager send email to kathy.mahler@stanford.edu or to Anita.Craig@stanford.edu requesting a DSS account for you. If you would like access to the financial data, have him/her specify your department or a list of org codes for which you need access.  We will verify your authority or request clarification from your supervisor.  If you would like access to the research, student or staff data, please let us know.  Please also let us know how you heard about DSS and why you would like access — is there a particular report you hope to produce? Is there a particular question you hope to answer?

At this time there is no charge for a DSS account, computer time, training, documentation or software.

An email list is used to send out notices about changes, upgrades and server outages. You will be placed on this public list when you are assigned a DSS account.  IR&DS also sends out  a quarterly newsletter that will tell you if new data is available.

Yes, typically one or two BusinessObjects/WebIntelligence classes are offered every six months or so.  Topics vary from report formatting to accessing sponsored projects data, or financial data. Everyone on the DSS distribution list will be notified about upcoming BusinessObjects classes.

You need a type of application called a query tool. Query tools give you menus, buttons, lists and other point-and-click features to compose requests to the DSS database. Without a query tool, you would have to know Structured Query Language (SQL) in order to compose a request for data from a relational database. You also need some software to send your request from your PC to the DSS database and to transfer the results of the query from the DSS database back to your computer.

Query results are returned to you in table format. You can apply additional formatting with the query tool or transfer the results to a spreadsheet or other desktop application.

As with spreadsheets, drawing programs and word processors, there are many companies that sell query tools. Several years ago the DSS team evaluated query tools that were available for both the Macintosh and PC, and selected Business Objects and Hyperion Interactive Reporting (formerly Brio Query)

Most of our users use BusinessObjects full-client software, which runs on a PC. We have also set up a web server that runs the BusinessObjects WebIntelligence software for our Macintosh-based users, as well as some PC users.

BusinessObjects is the primary DSS query tool. BusinessObjects has lots of features that make it easy to find what you want, build queries and format reports.  BusinessObjects allows the DSS team to limit your view of the database to particular portions of data. Most of the financial and sponsored projects data in the DSS database is available through BusinessObjects, so if your primary interest is in financial or sponsored projects data, BusinessObjects is the correct query tool for you. If you use a Macintosh, you can use the web-based version of this software, which is called WebIntelligence.

Hyperion Interactive Reporting is only used by clients when they need access to data in the DSS database that is not yet available in BusinessObjects.  A very limited number of Hyperion licenses are available for distribution to clients, so you may need to purchase your own copy.  If you are not sure which tool to use, the DSS team will advise

You may purchase other commercial query tools to connect to the DSS database once you have a DSS account and connectivity software to access the database server.  Examples of other query tools might be Microsoft Access or SAS.  The DSS team can recommend resources for helping you to get set-up and can provide support for the DSS data, but we will not be able to provide support on the use of the tool.

Contact a member of the DSS Team or any member of IR&DS!

Please either click the "BusinessObjects Downloads" link in the lefthand menu of these pages -- or click here. Please note that you will have to enter your SUNet userid and password into WebAuth to access these documents.