1. Analyze Database
Your Business Application (App) receives, generates, issues, and saves a wide variety of data over time.
We take the time to learn the basic mission of your business and of its Business Application. That guides us in understanding and analyzing the database for various business or professional functions in your company.
We review your data and its structure, identify where the high-value functions live, and map a clear, prioritized path - so the first views EQQ delivers are the ones your people will actually use in EQQ queries.
What the analysis covers
- Structure & data review - how your tables relate, and where the meaningful data lives.
- Request mapping - some real requests your people have expressed, matched to the functions that answer them.
- Data quality notes - gaps or inconsistencies to be aware of up front.
What you get
- A clear data map - a shared understanding of your database and where answers come from.
- A prioritized plan - the function-focused views to build first, ordered by the enthusiasm and commitment of the individuals who requested them.
- Fewer surprises - data-quality issues surfaced before they become problems.
2. Install & Configure
Once we understand your data, EQQ is installed and connected with your database through a secure connection. Your IT (Information Technology) staff only needs to assist with a few technical details - we handle the rest.
Access is configured so each person sees exactly the data appropriate to their role, and nothing more. The result is a self-serve tool the business can trust and your IT staff stays comfortable with.
What setup includes
- Secure connection - EQQ connects with your database with controlled, configured access.
- User & access setup - we register the right people with the right level of access.
- Environment configuration - tuned to fit your existing IT infrastructure.
- IT validation - your IT staff confirms a few technical details for a quick install.
What you get
- A working install - EQQ deployed and connected, ready for registered users to Create and Use Queries.
- Secure access - role-based access so everyone sees only what they should.
- IT peace of mind - a secure setup that fits your IT Infrastructure and is low-maintenance.
- Access to EQQ Documents
- Create and Use Queries
- Create Views
- Administration and Security of users and the EQQ App
- Numerous examples with screen shots
- FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
- And more
3. Define & Create SQL Views
The power of EQQ comes from well-designed SQL views - the building blocks that turn complex, raw tables into clear, correct collections of related information that business users can rely on. We design, build, and validate these views so the logic is right and the results are consistent.
Each view is a “virtual table”. It has rows and columns like an Excel worksheet, but it is just a list of fields taken from several related tables in the database. It is the source list of data fields that Query Creators can select into one or, over time, more unique queries.
What view creation delivers
- A view library - a growing set of views your people can use to create a library of reusable queries.
- Validated logic - tested so the answers are correct and consistent.
- Excel-ready output - results in the format the Query Creator(s) and Query Users want.
- Refinement over time - views can evolve over time by adding more fields to be offered to the Query Creator. And completely new views can be created as needed.
What you get
- Correct answers - validated views mean everyone works from the same, accurate data.
- Reusable query building blocks - build once, run many times, no SQL required to use them.
- Excel-ready results - answers land in the format your people work in.
- User-friendly results in commonly used and modern formats (Excel, CSV, PDF, and JSON).
4. Ongoing User Support
Help when your people need it, plus refinements as your requests evolve, so EQQ keeps delivering.
EQQ delivers the most value over time, as your people grow more confident and requests evolve. Our ongoing support means help is there when you need it - and that your views and queries keep pace with your changing needs.
Whether it’s answering a question, refining a view, or guiding a new user, we’re a responsive partner, not a one-time vendor.
What ongoing support covers
- Responsive support - help when someone has a question or hits a snag.
- View refinements - adjustments as your requests change.
- User guidance - bringing new people up to speed quickly.
- Documentation & resources - guides and FAQs to help your people self-serve.
What you get
- A responsive partner - real people who know EQQ and your setup, ready to help.
- Views that keep pace - refinements as your needs and requests evolve.
- Confident users - guidance and resources that help your people get more from EQQ.
5. Program Management
Plan A - Hope for the Best
EQQ-Triangle is powerful, flexible, and easy to use.
- Database Analysis goes well. Minor glitches dealt with.
- Install & Configure goes well. Minor details sorted out OK.
- Define & Create Views goes well. Several enthusiastic individuals ready to create and use queries.
- Ongoing User Support - especially the EQQ Documents help those enthusiasts become good at creating and using real-life queries.
Other business and professional functions are lining up to join the EQQ-Triangle process.
Plan for the Worst
Default case: very little happens. Problems in steps 1-4 may not get resolved well. Maybe two or three individuals try to create a trivial query from their view. Maybe one of them succeeds with a truly useful query and actually uses it. But that is about it.
Often the facts are some combination of:
- “Everyone is too busy doing their job.”
- The individuals are finding flaws in their respective views.
- They have difficulty accessing or using EQQ Documents.
- Management does not seem to support this effort.
- There are IT infrastructure or security issues.
This is why part-time Program Management often is needed.
Plan B
Find and engage a Part-Time Program Manager - a few hours per week. That person can be someone at your company - or us, under our Program Management service.
Suggested qualifications:
- Understands the EQQ-Triangle purpose and its potential value to the company.
- Gets along with people, but can stand their own ground.
- Has talent for “Getting Stuff Done.”
- Will have company management support when needed.
Facts
Each of the four stages is a small but important workflow and information flow project.
- It needs to be organized and staffed accordingly, with clearly understood goals, tasks, and expectations.
- It needs ongoing progress to be visible.
- Issues and roadblocks need to be identified and resolved.
- Insofar as practical, issues, roadblocks, and project-specific decisions should be made at the most direct operational level.
- The Program Manager sometimes can be a facilitator.
- “Kicking it upstairs” should be only the last resort.
You can see more detail in this Blog post.