Databases Reference
In-Depth Information
not alone. Don't be afraid to admit that everything is not going as planned.
Once you understand why things have stalled, you can take specific steps to
get started again.
Common Causes for a Stalled Warehouse
Over the years, patterns have emerged which have resulted in industry-best
practices. Sometimes the patterns that emerge help identify what can go
wrong. There are several common causes for a data warehouse that has
stalled, including the following:
Lack of business focus:
The data warehouse may have been built without
direct input and partnering with the business. This is the root cause of
many data warehouses that are not used or have limited adoption in the
business community. In this case, the data warehouse usually represents
a collection of well-organized data. It often doesn't have any connection
to solving any business issues or supporting business units.
Recommendation:
Work with representatives from the business audience
to understand their requirements. Compare the data that you already
have with these requirements. Perhaps minor enhancements to the data
and the development of a few reports are needed. Adding training may
breathe new life into the data warehouse. Unfortunately, sometimes the
data as loaded cannot really help at all. If this is true, then study what
is needed. Take the techniques and methods learned and apply them to
starting over with a strong business focus this time.
Unstable technical platform:
If the products that have been selected
are not installed and configured properly, then they will not work as
advertised. Sometimes products don't work at all. In other cases, the
products have sporadic problems. Either way, if the technology is not
reliable, then no one will depend on the data warehouse to help them run
their part of the business.
Recommendation:
Stabilize the technology. Ensure that the development
team and the business users have a sound, reliable environment to use.
Take the time to pinpoint any problems. Upgrade the hardware, fix the
configuration, and ensure that you are running the most current releases
of the software. Approach the vendors with an open attitude. Explore the
recommended configurations, rather than demand making your current
setup work. Vendors are often hesitant to say that what you have will
not work. They will try to develop many work-arounds to meet your
demands. Make the environment the best that you can to exploit the
products you have selected.
