This is a question that keeps coming up, and product
managers/ engineers keep saying we need reports, but in some many ways they are
confused between the past and the reality of NOW decisions today. “Today” the
need for “Operational Decision” data which is the status now, and over a short
time span, with the ability to discover conditions, causes, through
relationships, to make “Now” decisions. These are not traditional reports which
display a pre defined period and fixed formate. Also, the concept of
Dashboards, predefined Gadgets on the desktop, mobile device that act like
tickers. All of this is about empowerment of the NOW and reports do fit this
role, so do traditional reports have a future????