Database Reference
In-Depth Information
OPERATIONAL
SYSTEMS
Extraction,
cleansing,
aggregation
Key measurements,
business dimensions
Basic
business
processes
Data
Transformation
DATA
WAREHOUSE
Figure 20-11
Business intelligence at the data warehouse.
From where does the data warehouse get its data? The data are derived from the
operational systems that support the basic business processes of the organization.
Between the operational systems and the data warehouse, there is a data staging
area. In this staging area, operational data are cleansed and transformed into a form
suitable to be placed in the data warehouse for easy retrieval and quick analysis.
Data Warehouse: A New Type of System Environment You have noted that
the data warehouse environment is not the same as the operational environment
supporting the day-to-day business operations. Here are the defining features of the
data warehouse environment:
Database designed for analytical tasks
Data from multiple applications
Easy to use and conducive to long interactive sessions by users
Read-intensive data usage
Direct interaction with the system by the users without IT assistance
Content updated periodically and stable
Content to include current and historical data
Ability for users to run queries and get results online
Ability for users to initiate reports
So how can you define a data warehouse? The data warehouse is an informa-
tional environment that
Provides an integrated and total view of the enterprise,
Makes the enterprise's current and historical information easily available for
decision making,
Makes decision support transactions possible without hindering operational
systems,
Renders the organization's information consistent, and
Presents a flexible and interactive source of strategic information.
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