Collaborative Business Intelligence: A Case Study of the Dubai Smart City Strategy

This study investigates the concept of Collaborative Business Intelligence in general and specifically in three Dubai governmental entities, which are a part of Dubai Open Data Committee: namely Smart Dubai, Dubai Municipality and RTA, in an attempt to improve collaborative Business Intelligence between the three entities thorough a Smart City Project. A qualitative approach was used to collect data. Secondary data derived from academic articles, scholarly literature formulate the literature review and understand the concepts of business intelligence, collaborative business intelligence in general and how such business intelligence works at the three entities in specific. In addition, primary data was derived from interviews conducted with three senior employees from the top management of Smart Dubai, Dubai Municipality and RTA to help further gain in-depth understanding on how the three entities are collaborating with one another in Smart City Project. The results of the study have revealed that all three entities; Smart Dubai – Dubai Data Establishment, Dubai Municipality, and RTA are adopting business intelligence and collaborative BI. In addition, it is evident that the three entities are sharing data through Dubai Pulse for Smart City Projects. As well, the most used systems and software for analyzing and sharing data among all government entities to support decision-making process. The massive volume of data collected from different source required a huge investment in technology, process and people. In addition, because smart city project is still a new project under implementation and reconstruction, the project has reported few challenges with the implementation of BI, collaboration, and integration within the Municipality, RTA, and Smart Dubai, the key challenge is problem is with raising awareness among personnel and individuals working within in these three entities areas to embrace smart services, typical of collaborative business intelligence. As well as privacy and data security in which Dubai Data Establishment has adopted many strategies and policies to improve. Moreover, Limited research on best practice of BI and collaborative BI in UAE based organizations make it difficult to confirm if the organizations achieve the successful implementation of the collaborative BI and that make this assumption an area for further study.