Introduction to Data Warehousing

1
Introduction to Data Warehousing

• Class Introduction

2
Topics in this Lecture

• About the instructor
• About each of you
• About this subject
• Syllabus review
• QA

3
About James Madison

• Computer operations in Desert Storm, 1990-1991
• Awarded the highest single medal in my unit
• Central Connecticut State University, New
  Britain, CT
• B.S. in computer science. Graduated 1996. 4th
  in class.
• Rensselaer Polytechnic University, Hartford, CT
• M.S. in computer science. Graduated 2006. 4.0
  GPA
• Industry experience 10 years in insurance
• Currently an IT architect in a 80TB data
  warehouse
• Involved in almost every aspect of the DW
  function
• Adjunct professor _at_ RPI
• Because it is extremely enjoyableand good for
  the resume
• Doing the DW class because DWing is what I do
  all day!

4
About Each of You

• Who are you?
• Academic background
• In general major, special focuses, etc.
• Data warehousing or other computer studies in
  particular
• Professional experience
• Background and current status
• Systems analysis or other computer experience in
  particular
• Why are you here?
• Why are you taking this class?
• From a broad perspective, not just as a
  requirement
• What do you hope to know by the end that you
  dont now?
• Be specificI may adjust course content based on
  answers

5
About This Subject

• Data warehousing in general
• Hard work must gather and fix organizations
  data
• High value facilitates advanced business
  drivers
• Expensive lots of hardware and lots of people
• Great career because youre the hub of those 3
  things
• A note on business intelligence
• BI is the use of data to drive the business
• DWing is the foundation of BI
• We will touch BI, but full coverage is beyond
  class scope
• Textbooks for the class
• Kimball detailed, user-centric, energetic
  writing
• Inmon general, system-centric, inefficiently
  written
• Both are needed for a full perspective

6
QA

• Any questions before moving to syllabus review?

7
Syllabus Review

• Hard-copies to be handed out
• There are two components
• General overall aspects of the class
• Agenda a week-by-week breakdown of events