Business intelligence approach to support modelling and analysis of complex economic networks

Complex networks as a powerful tool for the structure modelling of complex system, ranging from biological networks to human society networks or technological networks, have recently emerged as an independent area of study. Because structure always affects function, the purpose of network modelling and analysis is to understand the characters and behaviours of large, interacting networks. The main results based network analysis can affect human decision-making. At present, most researchers are concerned about structure analysis and behaviour analysis of networked system, and little attention to building complex network models using intelligent methods or tools. This study proposed a revised BI framework integrated with network analysis, and discussed concepts and tools of business intelligence can be used to support modelling and analysis of complex networks, especially complex economic networks which are constructed by multi-entities and multi-ties, are multi-levels, multi-dimension, multi-mode and evolving. Case study based on international trade networks described design and implementation of the BI process is presented. Copyright © 2011 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.