Microsoft Dynamics CRM a Leader according to Forrester

Turn away for a second and the next thing you know Dynamics is touted as a bona fide Leader for CRM.  Check out the Waves for both Large Enterprise and Mid-Size...

Here are the related links:
Microsoft Dynamics CRM Cited as a Leader by Independent Research Firm
The Forrester Wave™: CRM Suites For Midsized Organizations,Q2 2010
The Forrester Wave™: CRM Suites for Large Organizations, Q2 2010

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July 2010 v.37 – Business Intelligence Update

HOT TOPICS

Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference
July 11-15, Washington DC
Click here for more info

Free ebook: Introducing Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2
Blog: Introducing Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 – Business Intelligence Samples

Microsoft Live Labs Pivot
World Cup Pivot

Blog: ProClarity Resources
Demo: Using PowerPivot to analyze MS Dynamics NAV

WEBCASTS
All webcast times are in Eastern Time Zone unless otherwise specified

BI on a Limited or Shrinking Budget: Strategies for Doing More with Less
Hosted by Tableau Software
Jul 7, 12pm
Click here for more info

Techniques & Technologies for Enterprise-Wide BI Deployment
Hosted by Strategy Companion
Jul 8, 2pm
Click here for more info

Powerful Budgeting, Planning and Forecasting with CLARITY 7 using Microsoft technology
Hosted by Clarity Systems
Jul 13, 2pm
Click here for more info

Empower Your Users with Advanced Analytics-On-The-Fly
Hosted by Panorama
Jul 20, 2pm
Click here for more info

SaaS and BI
Hosted by Strategy Companion
Aug 26, 2pm
Click here for more info

EVENTS

Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference
Hosted by Microsoft
Jul 11-15, Washington D.C.
Click here for more info

Building Cubes using Analysis Services
Boise SQL Server User Group
July 13, Boise ID
Click here for more info

Query Tuning Tips
Hosted by PASSMN, presented by Itzik Ben-Gan
July 20, Bloomington MN
Click here for more info

2010 Tableau Customer Conference
Aug 30-Sep 2, Seattle, WA
Click here for more info

TRAINING

Web-based Training

SQL Server: Training Portal, eLearning
SharePoint 2007: Training Portal
SharePoint 2010: Getting Started with SharePoint 2010, Introducing SharePoint Designer
PerformancePoint 2010: Up to Speed with PerformancePoint Dashboards and Web Parts

Instructor Led Training

Presenting Data and Information
Edward Tufte
Jul 19, Minneapolis, MN
Jul 22 & 23 Chicago, IL
Sep 29 & 30 Arlington, VA
Oct 1, Arlington, VA
Click here for more info

Implementing and Maintaining Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services
Accelebrate
Jul 14-16, Online
Aug 25-27, Online
Click here for more info

Advanced T-SQL Querying, Programming and Tuning for SQL Server 2005 & 2008
Solid Quality Mentors
Jul 19-23, Minneapolis, MN
Jul 26-30, Bellevue, WA
Sep 13-17, Sacramento, CA
Click here for more info

SQL Server and Business Intelligence Training
Pragmatic Works
August Courses, Online
Click here for more info

SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) Training
Intertech
Aug 25-27, Minneapolis, MN
Click here for more info

Business Intelligence Training
Hosted by QuickStart
Click here for more info

Microsoft PerformancePoint Planning Training
Hosted by CapstoneBI
Click here for more info

RESOURCES
Microsoft BI

SQL Server
Business Intelligence: SQL 2005, SQL 2008
SSAS: list of front end applications
Data Mining: SQL 2005, SQL 2008
StreamInsight: Versions and SQL Server SKUs, Developers Training Kit
Book: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services Unleashed
Book: Data Mining with SQL Server 2008
SQL 2008 R2: Home, Parallel Data Warehouse

Download: SQL Server 2008 R2
Microsoft Virtual Lab: PowerPivot for Excel 2010 Introduction, SQL Server 2008 Virtual Labs
Hands On Lab: PowerPivot in SQL Server 2008 R2
Whitepaper: Best Practices for Data Warehousing with SQL Server 2008
Whitepaper: Develop Reporting Services reports using Analysis Services data
SQL 2008 Books Online: Planning and Architecture (Analysis Services – Data Mining)
SQL 2008 Books Online: Architecture of Integration Services
Whitepaper: Top 10 Performance and Productivity Reasons to Use SQL Server 2008 for Your Business Intelligence Solutions
Blog: SQL Server 2008 for Oracle DBA

SharePoint Server 2010
Microsoft SharePoint Team Blog
Blog: SharePoint 2010 – Top 10 Resources to get you started…
Describing SharePoint 2010 in 1 Sentence, 8 Categories and 40 Feature Areas
Excel Services in SharePoint 2010 Feature Support, Dashboard Improvements, Planning for Upgrade from SharePoint Portal Server 2003 to SharePoint Server 2010
MSDN Virtual Lab: Developing Business Intelligence Applications

Office 2010
www.PowerPivot.com
PowerPivot Team Blog
The Great PowerPivot FAQ
Download: PowerPivot for Excel 2010
Book: Professional Microsoft PowerPivot for Excel and SharePoint
Book: PowerPivot for the Data Analyst: Microsoft Excel 2010

Blog: Load data from SAP into PowerPivot for Excel
Blog: The Business User’s Perspective
Blog: Thoughts on how PowerPivot and SSAS could work together
Blog: Diagnostic Guide for Usage and the PowerPivot Management Dashboard
Screencast: Using datamining with PowerPivot in Excel

Microsoft BI Certifications
Blog: New 2008 Microsoft BI Certifications Reviewed
Blog: Obtaining Microsoft BI Certification
Learning Plan: BI Developer
Exam: 70-448
Exam: 70-452
Exam: 78-702

Related BI Resources
Notes from the Field

Professional Association for SQL Server
SSAS-info
FUTURESULTS – Microsoft web parts, add-ons, customizations
Panorama Software Releases NovaView 6.2: Integration with Office/SharePoint 2010…
Dundas Dashboard Wins “Best of TechEd” Award
Article: Microsoft PowerPivot vs. Tableau
Blog: Using a Data Warehouse for CRM
Blog: Thoughts on: Who are the BI Personas?

NEWS AND PRESS RELEASES

Review: Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010
Dissecting Microsoft Office 2010
Office 2010: a deeper dive
Forrester: Google still a distant Office competitor

PowerPivot Developer’s Career Is Full of Twists and Turns
PowerPivot observations from TechEd/BI Conf, Pt 1
Laissez les bon temps rouler! (Microsoft BI Conference 2010)
TechEd 2010 StreamInsight Session and Demo

Attracting and Retaining Top BI Professionals

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