Development of Data Warehouse Conceptual Models

Abstract

There are many methods in the area of data warehousing to define requirements for the development of the most appropriate conceptual model of a data warehouse. There is no universal consensus about the best method, nor are there accepted standards for the conceptual modeling of data warehouses. Only few conceptual models have formally described methods how to get these models. Therefore, problems arise when in a particular data warehousing project, an appropriate development approach, and a corresponding method for the requirements elicitation, should be chosen and applied. Sometimes it is also necessary not only to use the existing methods, but also to provide new methods that are usable in particular development situations. It is necessary to represent these new methods formally, to ensure the appropriate usage of these methods in similar situations in the future. It is also necessary to define the contingency factors, which describe the situation where the method is usable.This chapter represents the usage of method engineering approach for the development of conceptual models of data warehouses. A set of contingency factors that determine the choice between the usage of an existing method and the necessity to develop a new one is defined. Three case studies are presented. Three new methods: userdriven, data-driven, and goal-driven are developed according to the situation in the particular projects and using the method engineering approach.

A Multidimensional Model for Data Warehouses of Simulation Results

“…In this context, the design of a data warehouse is a very challenging issue. Currently, there are no well-established strategies for the development process (Niedrite et al, 2009). Existing data warehouse development methods fall within three basic categories: data driven, user-driven and goal driven (List et al, 2002).…”

“…It starts by choosing the business process, determines the grain of the process, and chooses dimensions and facts. This approach considers a business process (Niedrite et al, 2009) as a major operational process.…”

“…Unlike the user-driven and the goal-driven methods, the data-driven method is the fastest way to define a data warehouse schema (Niedrite et al, 2009). In our context, this method can help simulation experimenters to discover needs by analyzing the simulation results' sources.…”