Databases Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER
5
Setting Up a Successful
Project
Opportunities for data warehousing can be identified using the techniques
described in Chapter 3. Now that the organization has determined that a data
warehouse would be beneficial, it is time to set up a DW project. This involves
more than just getting permission and some funding. This chapter takes you
step by step through the process of starting a successful DW project:
Setting up a project charter
Defining the scope of work
Formally launching the project
Suggestions for managing change on a DW project
Setting the project up correctly is a critical step toward ensuring suc-
cess. Some organizations have very rigorous project management procedures
already in place. If so, please continue to leverage those methods and tech-
niques. If not, then the following techniques can be adopted. The goal is to
clearly articulate what you are trying to accomplish.
Defining the Project
The business community should be involved up front, setting overall goals
and budgeting for the entire data warehouse and for specific data warehouse
projects. In some organizations, this is done without assistance from IT. The
business must determine what they want, and then IT must help to define
what is entailed in delivering that solution. Business involvement must not
stop after the project is defined. As discussed in Chapter 4, the business and
systems communities need to work together.
Since the organization has progressed to this point, there is usually a good
idea of where there are needs that a data warehouse could help address. A spe-
cific project may have been identified while looking at the strategic direction
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