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

by Paul Westerman (Author) "The concept of data warehousing is really quite simple..." (more)
Key Phrases: transaction sequence code, data warehouse implementation, replenishment application, Generic Retail Store Corp, Monterey Bay, Merchandising Sample Analyses (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

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.

From the Back Cover

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.

Features

• 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.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 297 pages
• Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann; 1st edition (January 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155860684X
• ISBN-13: 978-1558606845
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #506,577 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Whats Missing, September 27, 2001

By	michael e. granfield (Southlake, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

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.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very powerful book, October 23, 2000

By	patrick darmon (Paris France) - See all my reviews

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

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Complete nonsense, January 13, 2005

By	Philip Stoev (Sofia, Bulgaria) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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".