Systematic Review of Business Intelligence and Analytics Platforms for Program Evaluation and Budget Accountability

Abstract

This systematic review explores the role of Business Intelligence (BI) and analytics platforms in enhancing program evaluation and budget accountability. As organizations increasingly turn to data-driven decision-making to improve transparency, optimize resource allocation, and monitor program outcomes, BI platforms have emerged as critical tools in ensuring the effective management of public and private sector programs. This paper examines the key features of BI platforms, including data visualization, predictive analytics, and reporting tools, which facilitate better decision-making and financial oversight. Additionally, the review classifies various BI platforms based on their functionality, including open-source versus proprietary options, and highlights the most widely adopted platforms such as Tableau, Power BI, and Qlik Sense. Despite their advantages, challenges such as data quality issues, resistance to change, and integration difficulties are identified. The paper concludes with practical recommendations for the adoption and effective use of BI tools, and outlines future research directions, particularly in the integration of AI and machine learning technologies into BI platforms to enhance program evaluation and budgeting processes further.