Explicit Measures Podcast

We got a mailbag! Here is the question: How strict should one be to always push new data sources through our framework before we build tabular models. When and where to draw the line of when it's ok to connect Power BI directly to a source system (or a replica of the same), to speed up deliveries undermining the long term support by not using our BI framework (bronze, silver and gold layers in syn...

Mike, Seth, & Tommy write letters to Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft on their wishes for Power BI, and where the biggest needs are. Get in touch: Send in your questions or topics you want us to discuss by tweeting to @PowerBITips with the hashtag #empMailbag or submit on the PowerBI.tips Podcast Page . Visit PowerBI.tips: https://powerbi.tips/ Watch the episodes live every Tuesday and Thur...

Mike, Seth, & Tommy dive into a common but hard-to-find feature in Power BI - Display Folders or Measure Tables for our DAX Measures? What is the cost and benefit for each, and should we adhere to one or the other? Get in touch: Send in your questions or topics you want us to discuss by tweeting to @PowerBITips with the hashtag #empMailbag or submit on the PowerBI.tips Podcast Page . Visit Pow...

Based off this article on Bibb.pro...https://www.bibb.pro/post/why-business-intelligence-needs-a-figma-design-system Does BI "require" a Figma design system? We have talked in bunches about wireframing, but honestly how much of our time needs to be devoted to design tools? The guys discuss just that. Get in touch: Send in your questions or topics you want us to discuss by tweeting to @PowerBITips...

The guys go back to the Mythical Man Month and speaking on an important topic: Plan to Throw One Away.  The idea back in the day and still true now is why do not focus enough on a prototype, both in design and in modeling. https://course.ccs.neu.edu/cs5500f14/Notes/Prototyping1/planToThrowOneAway.html Get in touch: Send in your questions or topics you want us to discuss by tweeting to @PowerB...

The guys discuss two great articles around if the skill and success of Power BI resolves around Change management abilities.  https://jenstirrup.com/2022/11/12/business-intelligence-or-change-management-the-power-of-being-broken/ https://www-forbes-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.forbes.com/sites/brentdykes/2022/11/29/why-change-management-skills-are-essential-to-data-driven-success/ Get in to...

Microsoft has fully become a player in the data industry. From Power BI (obviously) to Azure, Machine learning, Purview, Synapse, Power Apps.... Just in Power BI alone we have dataflows, datamarts, datasets! Sprinkle in your organizations own custom systems, how do we know what tools are the most appropriate for a given project? What makes a certain combination of tools better than others?  I...

We are talking about Security Groups in Power BI with an introduction to where it works.  And for those of you who this sounds boring: trust us, there is more to this feature than you think. Why are security groups important for a Power BI Admin, and are we underutilizing them? What risks are there? Get in touch: Send in your questions or topics you want us to discuss by tweeting to @PowerBIT...

Taking a different approach to DAX, the language and toolbelt of the DAX language goes far beyond just crunching numbers. What can DAX do to enhance the report styling and descriptive information?  What should we utilize DAX for that can professionalize and help users understand their data? Get in touch: Send in your questions or topics you want us to discuss by tweeting to @PowerBITips with...

We are going back into the Enrico Bertini well of amazing insights.  On the surface, the question of what makes a visual confusing is simple. But do we have a solid understanding of the components and all the inputs involved that truly make it confusing? Article here: https://filwd.substack.com/p/what-makes-a-data-visualization-confusing Get in touch: Send in your questions or topics you want...

The growth of self-service and fast moving data has lead to the lack of what is defined as corporate data. What comes from the top, and should we treat this data and reports differently?  Get in touch: Send in your questions or topics you want us to discuss by tweeting to @PowerBITips with the hashtag #empMailbag or submit on the PowerBI.tips Podcast Page . Visit PowerBI.tips: https://powerbi...

Based on a post on LinkedIn, arguing that data modeling has become a "second class citizen" and no longer paired with business concepts from day 1 of development.  We deal with this even in the Power BI world. We stare at models and columns and, usually assuming the source data has been vetted and has meaning. But what too often occurs is the lack of process around the input, organization of...

Based on a link from Paul Turley's blog (and an episode on getting your data into shape).  The idea behind this is observations from software engineers not delivering on time despite adding more resources, with the possibility of measuring quality work in "man-months" is a myth.  How much of this relates to Power BI development and data integration struggles? When we are so deep in the t...

Microsoft has released a bombshell to the entire Office 365 ecosystem: Power BI Desktop is included with the Office Installer. What implications and effects will this have on data, development, and trust? What does this mean from a governance and adoption perspective? Will this lead towards more self-service, and do we as the developers need to pivot on how we deploy and share data? Link to releas...

Mike, Seth, & Tommy dive into a new diagram on the suggestion for implementing the Power BI Adoption Roadmap, from getting familiar to success. Do they agree? Link to Diagram: https://twitter.com/sqlchick/status/1587128216145240071?s=46&t=W73bDFtuw_E9oY76ek8c0w Article: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/guidance/powerbi-adoption-roadmap-conclusion Get in touch: Send in your questi...

Mike, Seth, & Tommy dive into an amazing article by Enrico Bertini, on what Data Thinking and the gaps there.  What is the importance of critical thinking in the BI world? https://filwd.substack.com/p/what-matters-really-is-effective https://corporatetrainingmaterials.com/blogs/using-our-materials/improving-critical-thinking-skills-a-guide Get in touch: Send in your questions or topics yo...

Another amazing article by Data Goblins on utilizing the features in Apps, Mike, Seth, & Tommy discuss the alternate ways to use the audiences as a content management system and feature set rather than just for security.  Article here: https://data-goblins.com/power-bi/app-audiences Get in touch: Send in your questions or topics you want us to discuss by tweeting to @PowerBITips with the...

Have you ever seen a community fall apart, or lose its luster? In the context of Power BI, we are part of many communities, but why do some lose their engagement? Mike, Seth, & Tommy Discuss just that. And introducing jam.powerbi.tips !  Get in touch: Send in your questions or topics you want us to discuss by tweeting to @PowerBITips with the hashtag #empMailbag or submit on the PowerBI.t...

Adoption & Promotion... Using @Gartner_inc "Trough of Disillusionment", what should Power BI Pros expect and can we avoid this at our organizations? Article here: https://www.gartner.com/en/research/methodologies/gartner-hype-cycle Get in touch: Send in your questions or topics you want us to discuss by tweeting to @PowerBITips with the hashtag #empMailbag or submit on the PowerBI.tips Po...

Mike, Seth, & Tommy focus on everything OUTSIDE the report landing page, and the report itself. What can we do to further help organizations and consumers in Power BI experience, from App experience to Power BI home.  Get in touch: Send in your questions or topics you want us to discuss by tweeting to @PowerBITips with the hashtag #empMailbag or submit on the PowerBI.tips Podcast Page . V...

This came from a conversation with an attendee at the Data Insights Summit in Chicago: There are so many features and projects to work on in the Power BI platform, but it is nearly impossible for one person to focus on all  of them (adoption, development, etc.). How do you scale your skills from a career and organizational level? Get in touch: Send in your questions or topics you want us to d...

Datamarts in #PowerBI ... We have 5 months to work with, so where do they fit for teams, solutions? The Explicit Measures podcast revisits datamarts and if they are truly disruptive for process, or do we need to think differently? Get in touch: Send in your questions or topics you want us to discuss by tweeting to @PowerBITips with the hashtag #empMailbag or submit on the PowerBI.tips Podcast Page...

Power BI Deployment Pipelines are fast becoming an essential feature for organizations and BI teams. With the newly release deployment history, the ability to set rules, and utilize DevOps, this logically leads us to the question... Should Deployment Pipelines be part of every BI teams solution to some capacity? Mike, Seth, & Tommy talk a big game about adoption and process, so where do Deploy...

With another amazing article by Paul Turley, the guys dive into the importance of star schemas and being able to mess around in Power BI.  Article for reference: https://sqlserverbi.blog/2022/08/31/getting-data-into-shape-for-reporting-with-power-bi/ Also touched on Power BI Tracker: https://joyfulcraftsmen.com/blog-power-bi-tracker/ Get in touch: Send in your questions or topics you wan...

Mike, Seth, & Tommy break out another mailbag and how the 7 step problem solving process relates to Power BI.   https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/how-to-master-the-seven-step-problem-solving-process Get in touch: Send in your questions or topics you want us to discuss by tweeting to @PowerBITips with the hashtag #empMailbag or sub...