Databases Reference
In-Depth Information
Develop and conduct training about the data and how to use it for
analysis, and help the business people learn how the reports/analyses
can help them do their daily work.
Create a visible and public launch of the new and improved data ware-
house. Make a big deal about it. Even if you are not in the marketing
department, you can usually find several people who are great party
planners. Tap into those skills to pull together a great celebration. Order a
cake, decorate the conference room and the business areas with balloons,
and have a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Pass out pencils with the data ware-
house support number printed on them. Invite the target business users
and everyone on the project team. This is truly a time to let everyone
know that things have changed. Be proud of the work that has been done.
Celebrate the progress made to date and get ready for success!
The business needs to provide a lot of proactive, visible support, especially
from upper management. Include key managers in launch meetings to
share their expectations that the data warehouse environment
will be used
to help the company meet its goals. If this isn't possible in person, it can
be shared via a memo or e-mail message.
While the launch should be carefully orchestrated, this is really just the
beginning. Now follow-through is needed to ensure that the data warehouse
is used and that business value is achieved. With the launch of the improved
data warehouse, the project team should loop back to the steps outlined in the
beginning of this chapter to finish the project and encourage use of the data
warehouse.
In Real Life
While the two companies we have been following are at opposite ends of the
spectrum from a size perspective, both have many complexities to deal with.
Let's see what challenges they are facing.
Lack of Support for the Production DW at Giant Co.
Giant Company has been diligent about following their project management
methodology. Resources are assigned based upon these project needs. Unfor-
tunately, no one paid much attention to supporting the data warehouse once
the project was complete. Sufficient funding was not secured and a single ETL
developer was assigned the responsibility to keep things running. Problems
were channeled through the standard help desk. Unfortunately, this left many
areas open for problems. The help desk was not educated or prepared to deal
