Meet Our Team

Hans:

Enterprise Architecture & BI Development Manager

Hi Hans, what does your work involve?

In the Enterprise Architecture & Applications team, we lay the tracks for the engineering team to execute their work according to the guiding principles and frameworks. This means that the same decisions and work don’t have to keep being re-done.

As the Manager of the BI Development team, I provide oversight of and support for the BI Developers who report to me as well as assisting with some technical backup responsibilities.

At ooba, the work of the BI Developers is to execute against job specs’ on business requirements for information. This might include finding sources of the relevant data, writing the necessary SQL or other code in order to obtain that data, then work on creating a format for the presentation of the data (so that whomever needs it can make good decisions based on it).

What is ooba’s approach to Enterprise Architecture & Applications?

On the architecture side, it’s important to know your business’ strategy because the architecture needs to support the execution of the strategic goals and objectives. This means it’s really important to consult with key stakeholders within the business, including the Business Analysts. Our deliverables aren’t necessarily the built system, but rather ensuring that we have in place the framework and guidelines for other people in the business can execute on.

In the business information space (AKA: BI = Business Intelligence), we have a team of BI Developers whose work ensures that we execute against the requirements within the necessary timelines. It’s all about focus and discipline.

In summary, at ooba our approach to work is that we come together and partner with each other by sharing our knowledge with one another. We take on all the challenges we face by creating solutions for them. Then we celebrate by having fun.

What do you look for in a good BI or SQL Developer?

First and foremost, we look for someone who’s a problem-solver. This is someone who can think both inside and outside the box, as well as see things from different perspectives. This is because of the nature of the all the data you need to work with and fashion into business information that provide insights for other stakeholders in the organisation.

As well as being a problem-solver, you need good technical application and skills in order to be able to execute the solution you’ve identified.

But it’s not enough to be purely technically competent. You need a level of business acumen too, as well as the ability to interact with other people across the business. You must be able to understand their needs and headspace, in order to deliver to provide them with the information that they can make good business decisions.

Also, you need discipline, the ability to concentrate, and to be able to manage yourself and your time successfully.

How is FinTech changing ooba’s approach to business?

Technology has always played a part in ooba’s business. And technology keeps on evolving and the pace of change keeps speeding up. The digitisation of business documents and systems has put a focus on the quality of the data and the speed at which it’s processed. More recently, mobile and touchscreen technology demands even more change and greater speed than ever.

ooba is adapting and changing to meet these trends in business and consumer technology. We’re always thinking about the architecture that we have in place. We want to make sure we empower our people to be able to do more online, whether it’s self-service options or more interaction throughout the mobile experience.

What’s the best thing about working at ooba?

Well, I like the challenges. In the work I do, there are always new challenges and problems to solve. In that lies the possibility of growing your own boundaries and capabilities.


 

Watch a short video of Hans and Tammy share what’s involved ividoen a BI Developer role at ooba:

Thanks for sharing, Hans!

ooba: the right home for your career.