A common view of information systems (IS) researchers is that business intelligence (BI) systems are essentially a type of decision support systems (DSS). This approach to knowledge implies that DSS theory can be transferred to BI systems in order to explain and predict their action. Further, some researchers feel that BI systems can also be adequately researched using general IS theory. This paper is the first from a project that is examining if BI systems have significant differences to operational IS and DSS. This first exploration is informed by a focus group of senior BI professionals. The study illuminates some differences between BI and other types of business IS and indicates that context could be significant for BI theorizing and that care is needed in transferring operational IS and DSS theory to BI systems research. In practice, these differences could be a source of project failure.