Page 79 - DCAP208_Management Support Systems

Management Support Systems

Notes Objectives

After studying this unit, you will be able to:
Discuss the Definitions and Concepts of Data Warehousing

Explain Process Overview
Explain Architecture of Data Warehouse
Discuss Data Warehousing Development
Discuss Administration and Security Issues

Introduction

A fundamental concept of a data warehouse is the distinction between data and information.
Data is composed of observable and recordable facts that are often found in operational or
transactional systems. At Rutgers, these systems include the registrar’s data on students (widely
known as the SRDB), human resource and payroll databases, course scheduling data, and data on
financial aid. In a data warehouse environment, data only comes to have value to end-users
when it is organized and presented as information. Information is an integrated collection of
facts and is used as the basis for decision-making. For example, an academic unit needs to have
diachronic information about its extent of instructional output of its different faculty members
to gauge if it is becoming more or less reliant on part-time faculty. In this unit, we will discuss
the concept of data warehousing.

6.1 Definitions and Concepts

The data warehouse is that portion of an overall Architected Data Environment that serves as the
single integrated source of data for processing information. The data warehouse has specific
characteristics that include the following:

Subject-Oriented: Information is presented according to specific subjects or areas of interest,
not simply as computer files. Data is manipulated to provide information about a particular
subject.

Example: The SRDB is not simply made accessible to end-users, but is provided structure
and organized according to the specific needs.
Integrated: A single source of information for and about understanding multiple areas of
interest. The data warehouse provides one-stop shopping and contains information about
a variety of subjects. Thus the OIRAP data warehouse has information on students, faculty
and staff, instructional workload, and student outcomes.
Non-Volatile: Stable information that doesn’t change each time an operational process is
executed. Information is consistent regardless of when the warehouse is accessed.

Time-Variant: Containing a history of the subject, as well as current information. Historical
information is an important component of a data warehouse.
Accessible: The primary purpose of a data warehouse is to provide readily accessible
information to end-users.
Process-Oriented: It is important to view data warehousing as a process for delivery of
information.
The maintenance of a data warehouse is ongoing and iterative in nature.

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