Data Warehouse: From Architecture to Implementation (Paperback)

by Barry Devlin (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Author distills the insights and experiences gained over 10 years of designing and building data warehouses. A key reference for any team undertaking the construction of a data warehouse. DLC: Database management.

From the Inside Flap

I first conceived of the idea of writing a book on data warehousing during a series of 2-day seminars known as the "Information Warehouse MasterClass" that I and a number of IBM colleagues had developed and presented around the world from 1992 to 1994. From the many companies that attended these seminars, one principal requirement was clear: they needed a common definition or architecture for a data warehouse, detailed enough to drive a consistent implementation within their organizations, yet concise enough to allow the whole company to understand and accept it. It was from the MasterClasses and the needs of these companies that I developed the representation and terminology of the data warehouse architecture used in this book.

In 1992, only a few real data warehouse implementations existed, each one hand-crafted and custom-built. Today, the vast majority of companies are planning to build or are actually building a data warehouse. While working with these companies over the years, I and other consultants saw the need to develop methodologies that cover the entire implementation process. This process continues to present major difficulties for many data warehouse implementations. I am convinced that companies today need a generalized and rational implementation approach to this complex process. The methodology described in this book is the result of crafting and proving the implementation approach over the years in real warehouse implementation projects.

Clearly, I have distilled the material covered here from interactions with many colleagues within IBM, with other consultants working in the field, and most especially from many hours of work with clients. Without their contributions, this book could not have been written. On the other hand, responsibility for any errors or misinterpretations is, of course, mine. It would be impossible to acknowledge by name everybody who has contributed to this book. To name anybody is to run the risk of omitting some valuable contributions; to those people I apologize in advance. However, I would like to especially thank a number of people either individually or collectively, whose support, knowledge, or time made this book possible:

the companies I've worked with over the years, especially those who have agreed to be directly referenced here: Martijn Bossenbroek (ABN AMRO), Børre Lunde and Solveig Oien Berg (Gjensidige), and Laura Sager (Whirlpool)

the colleagues who have contributed to or reviewed the material: John Bair, Peter Cabena, Ciarán Ennis, Keith Holmes, Edwin Humphreys, Jim McGovern, Paul Murphy, Barry O'Brien, Pat O'Sullivan, Phil Teale, Michael Storey, and Feargal Supple

the external reviewers who have added significantly to the book: David Christian, John Kneiling, Eric Rawlins, Richard Rist and Terry Moriarty

John Holland and Dónal O'Shea, who introduced the book to Addison Wesley Longman

the team at Addison Wesley Longman: Lynne Doran Cote, Katherine Harutunian, Patty Mahtani and especially my editor Susan Middleton

Last, but not least, a special word of thanks to my family, Lil, Katherine, Alan and Emma, who have become convinced over the past year that I can exist only in symbiosis with my PC.1

Barry Devlin
August, 1996
Dublin

1 The text of this book was produced entirely in Microsoft Word and the graphics were developed using Lotus Freelance Graphics.
0201964252P04062001

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Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional (November 14, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201964252
• ISBN-13: 978-0201964257
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #865,074 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Before you read Inmon or Kimball, read this., October 19, 1998

By A Customer

I had a good idea of what data warehousing was all about before reading this book, but Devlin helped me organize all of the bits and pieces into a (his) well architected view of the subject. The book provides an excellent, well organized overview of DW while providing enough detail to be useful to almost anyone involved in the process of building or maintaining a DW.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Data Warehouse Reference, April 13, 2000

By	Duane Schermerhorn (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

Devlin's book provides an excellent theoretical foundation for designing what I call a complete Business Intelligence Environment (BIE). He provides a number of valuable tips on how to implement as well as design the BIE.

The book is well-organized and very clearly written, with the text nicely laid out on the page, making it a good deal easier to read than most books on such a dry subject.

My objective in reading the book was to put together a diagram of a complete architecture for the BIE. Using his book I was able to quickly create one by tying together the various components he describes. It would have been helpful if Devlin had done this "assembly" himself as a means of concluding the architectural aspect.

I say this because when I integrated the various components into a unified picture, a number of questions came to mind that I couldn't find answers for in his text. The only other aspect I would criticize is that he should have addressed more attention to the systems management component, since it seems to me more complex than he indicates.

Nonetheless, an excellent reference and foundation for understanding this important area of Information Technology.

4.0 out of 5 stars Theory about Data Warehouse, November 29, 1999

By	Andris Rozenbahs (Riga Latvia) - See all my reviews

It's very good theoretical book, but sadly without practical things. If you need clear theory, then it's ok, but if you search for practical things - the best book's are from Ralph Kimball.