Shadow BI is nothing but BI applications developed by non BI professionals. It usually comes into practice when a business user loses patience in an incumbent software solution and comes up with a solution of his/her own. Shadow BI applications might appear as user friendly and appealing but most likely it might do some damage to the organization in the long run. There has been a debate as to whether shadow BI must be removed or not. Some experts believe when shadow BI becomes successful it will contribute to the BI ecosphere. Constructive professional guidance will be required to make the solution sustainable. Sometimes, it can even lead to better alternative solutions. However, there are some risks associated. The organization might be exposed to risks if the software has poor functionality, data integrity and might run into legal issues if it violates the software license agreement. Read more at: http://www.dataversity.net/how-to-overcome-the-big-data-hoarding-monster/