Building the Operational Data Store [Paperback]

W. H. Inmon (Author), Claudia Imhoff (Author), Greg Battas (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471128228 | ISBN-13: 978-0471128229 | Publication Date: October 1995 | Edition: 1

Everything you need to know about building, using, managing, and getting the most out of an operational data store.

"...the combination of the Operational Data Store along with the data warehouse 'flesh out' the modern information architecture of systems. Together these two architectural combine...to form a complete picture of modern systems architecture." W. H. Inmon.

The operational data store is a dynamic architectural construct specifically designed for doing high-speed, integrated operational processing. It achieves at the operational level what the data warehouse does at the strategic/managerial level. Now, from a team of experts headed by W. H. Inmon, the "father of the data warehouse," here is the first comprehensive guide to understanding, building, and using operational data stores. Providing in-depth coverage of all practical and theoretical issues surrounding the operational data store, it tells you:

• What the operational data store is, how it differs from the data warehouse, where it fits within modern systems architecture.
• How the operational data store relates to decision support and executive information systems data.
• Hardware platforms and configurations, related database design techniques, the role of CASE and DBMS technologies, and other crucial technical considerations.
• How to design and build an operational data store—including step-by-step guidelines, a comprehensive work plan, and numerous illustrative case studies.
• Techniques for using the operational data store in conjunction with the data warehouse to provide companies with a powerful competitive edge.
• And much more.

  Find out what an operational data store can do for your company and how to build one tailored to your organization's unique operational style and day-to-day information needs in Building the Operational Data Store.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Known as the 'father of the data warehouse,' Bill Inmon and his co-authors describe what the operational data store is and how it differs from the data warehouse. Details the steps in constructing an operational data store along with related database design techniques. Explains how the data store connects to decision support and executive information data. Includes an outline of a workplan and numerous case studies to facilitate understanding.

From the Back Cover

"Everything you need to know about building, using, managing, and getting the most out of an operational data store.

"...the combination of the Operational Data Store along with the data warehouse 'flesh out' the modern information architecture of systems. Together these two architectural combine...to form a complete picture of modern systems architecture." W. H. Inmon.

The operational data store is a dynamic architectural construct specifically designed for doing high-speed, integrated operational processing. It achieves at the operational level what the data warehouse does at the strategic/managerial level. Now, from a team of experts headed by W. H. Inmon, the "father of the data warehouse," here is the first comprehensive guide to understanding, building, and using operational data stores. Providing in-depth coverage of all practical and theoretical issues surrounding the operational data store, it tells you: What the operational data store is, how it differs from the data warehouse, where it fits within modern systems architecture. How the operational data store relates to decision support and executive information systems data. Hardware platforms and configurations, related database design techniques, the role of CASE and DBMS technologies, and other crucial technical considerations. How to design and build an operational data store—including step-by-step guidelines, a comprehensive work plan, and numerous illustrative case studies. Techniques for using the operational data store in conjunction with the data warehouse to provide companies with a powerful competitive edge. And much more.

Find out what an operational data store can do for your company and how to build one tailored to your organization's unique operational style and day-to-day information needs in Building the Operational Data Store.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (October 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471128228
• ISBN-13: 978-0471128229
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,833,886 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars ODS demystified, October 4, 2000

By 

eganov (WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Building the Operational Data Store, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

The ODS is probably one of the least understood and most confusing concepts within the Corporate Information Factory. Most likely because it is, by definition, a compromise, in both purpose and design, between operational and decision support systems. Although Inmon generally does not write with the clarity of Kimball, after reading this book most confusion about the ODS should be eliminated. The author does a good job of describing the concepts as well as deeper issues such as high and low level ODS designs. About half the book is really good while the other half will either be redundant to anyone in the industry (Managing an ODS, Role of Standards, Hardware and Software Requirements) or contains information mainly to "pump up the volume" (Big glossary, Project Milestones, Articles of Interest). Overall though it's pretty good and required reading.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Only a few of excellent idea/concept in the book, December 3, 2001

By 

"comelite" (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Building the Operational Data Store, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

Without previous experience on data warehousing or ODS, you will be killed by this book. So many confusing topics need to be figured out by yourself. Not for beginner!
However, some ideas/concepts in the book are very important for a correct implementation of ODS:
bring star-join to ODS,
classification of ODS,
bring Object oriented methodology to ODS

To be objective, the author really invented something new, but he did not need to write a book; a 30-page white paper will do the job perfectly.

19 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Difficult reading for the amount of information, July 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Building the Operational Data Store, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

I am a big fan of Ralph Kimball's data warehouse books. I was looking for a similar book for operational data stores, and had hoped this would be it. I was disappointed. There is a good bit of information in this book, but it is not written with the clarity of Kimball's books. The biggest disappointment though is the lack of real examples of ODS data models. I expect examples to be less "definitive" for an ODS than for a DW, nevertheless I desire something more tangible than what is presented in this book.