There are the hunkerers and the builders. Those are the two basic reactions to the recession that Jill Dychè observes. She’s a principal down at Baseline Consulting, and she reports seeing more builders.

The hunkerers “are using the economy as an excuse for a fair bit of inertia,” she emails. But the builders are using “the temporary lull” to ready themselves for the recovery. “Strategy” comes up a lot more these days.

One type of builder is revisiting infrastructure. For example, some want to re-platform their data warehouses, and others want to acquire master data management hubs. “When things get really busy again, they’re positioned to be out in front.”

A second type of builder she sees has better user functionality in mind. For example, one specialty retailer has decided to improve analytics and to make users more self-sufficient. “We’ve been helping them load new data into the data warehouse and to build in more ability to drill down.”

Naturally, many clients’ boom-time issues remain. One is the temptation to choose newer, faster and cheaper tools without having prepared the data. But that’s for a post next week.

This is one in a series of posts on the recession and BI.

What have you observed of the recession’s effects on BI? Tell me here.

Members of the “large government organization” my secret source addressed on Thursday are sure of one thing: One day, someone with authority is going to walk in and demand records, complete records, on where how they used the Troubled Asset Relief Program money. These visitors will ask to see where money went and how it got there. And right now.

Such new, rigorous expectations arising in today’s recession will benefit the business intelligence industry, he says. He’s one of the brains at a large tech vendor that sells a well-known BI platform.

“The group today were using language I’ve never heard them use before,” he says. Before, sharing data was was blocked for foolish reasons. “That inertia’s been given a kick in the teeth.”

Expectations have changed within government and outside, he says based on first-hand observations. “Requirements are becoming more stringent and more personal. There’s no more ‘the dog ate my homework.’”

“A lot of people are looking at change,” he says, “and BI is an agent of change.” He imagines what must go on now at General Motors. Projects that would have invited ridicule may now be considered.

This is one in a series of posts on the recession and BI.

What have you observed of the recession’s effects on BI? Tell me here.