Building metadata models using Framework Manager can be a simple or complex one.  It all depends on the underlying database structure and how relevant it is to the reporting that is required.  Regardless of the data model complexity there are a number of best practices that should be followed when building models using Framework Manager:

1. Never allow Cognos to create joins automatically when importing data sources.   Cognos rarely chooses correctly and this inevitably creates future rework.

I’m a IBM Certified Cognos developer who is just learning Business Objects.  With many years of Cognos experience and just a few weeks with BO  I must be clearly biased towards Cognos and I probably am.  So with my bias why even write something comparing the two technologies?  Why not?  As a consultant I am always learning new technologies and being asked to compare and contrast them. Given the number of different tools offered by both vendors, I think the comparison is best done at the individual tool level.  It is also important to note that I have not used all the tools Business Objects has to offer.

Web Intelligence vs. Report Studio/Query Studio