Data Warehousing: Using the Wal-Mart Model (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Data Management Systems)

Data Warehousing: Using the Wal-Mart Model (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Data Management Systems)
| 2000-01-15 00:00:00 | | 0 | Data Warehouse

At 70 terabytes and growing, Wal-Mart's data warehouse is still the world's largest, most ambitious, and arguably most successful commercial database. Written by one of the key figures in its design and construction, Data Warehousing: Using the Wal-Mart Model gives you an insider's view of this enormous project. Continuously drawing from this example, the author teaches you the general principles and specific techniques you need to understand to be a valuable part of your organization's own data warehouse project, however large or small. You'll emerge with a practical understanding of both the business and technical aspects of building a data warehouse for storing and accessing data in a strategically useful way.

What further sets this book apart is its focus on the informational needs of retail companies-including both market and organizational issues that affect the data's collection and use. If retail is your field, this book will prove especially valuable as you develop and implement your company's ideal data warehouse solution.

* Written by a member of the team of four engineers who designed and built the Wal-Mart Data Warehouse database, a team whose database design was recognized internally in 1991 by Wal-Mart with the company's Team Innovational Technical award.
* Provides essential information for project managers, consultants, data warehouse managers, and data architects.
* Takes an in-depth look at a wide range of technical issues, including architecture, construction approaches, tool selection, database system selection, and maintenance.
* Addresses issues specific to retail business: vendors, inventory, sales analysis, geography, article categories, and more.
* Explains how to determine business requirements at the outset of the project-and how to develop return on investment analyses after the warehouse has been brought online.

User review
Disappointingly Shallow
This is a technically light and highly subjective book, which gives no real depth on any aspect of establishing a substantial data warehouse. All the buzzword boxes are ticked, all the subject areas touched upon, but that's about all.

User review
Complete nonsense
There is no technical information whatsoever in this book. It should be catalogued under `non-fiction`, `PR` or `shameless self-promotion`, rather than `computer science`.

User review
Whats Missing
The analysis is very detailed on a conceptual basis, not a technical one. Its promise to use Wal Marts modeling as a primary example is only partially met and that is very disappointing.

User review
A very powerful book
If you ever are going to be involved in a data warehouse project, this book will bring you a lot, either your a techie or a end-user

In 250 pages, mr. Westerman provide a complete analysis- an a good one - of a real data warehouse project (simply, the most famous DW in town !)

I believe that this book brings a lot wathever is your backgound and job. To me, as an experienced Data Warehouse consultant, it confirms some knowledge I had of such project and brings me a good backgroung in retail end -user report templates.

You may agree - or not - with Mr. westerman architectural ambitious scheme - Enterprise DW, ODS, UDS, ,,. - but if he still believe they are possible after such a big project experience ! You must take his word seriously !

Overall excellent book whatever is your skill and a key reading for retail business people