00-00-Weekly Schedule – Semester
Ron Tarr
Tentative schedule – meaning subject to some changes
The following list of topics acts also as a schedule. The file naming/ numbering system
01-something
is what is covered in week 01 and 05-something will be in week 5. The numbering system also
corresponds with the numbering of the notes that will be given to you throughout the semester.
Starting in the Fall of 2013, I will try to compress the lecture portion further in an effort to add
additional topics at the end in the form of a project
00-00-Weekly Schedule REV: 23 March 2016
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Data Warehousing – List of topics
00-0 What is Data Warehousing (DW)
Overview
DW Definitions
Why is it important to business
Why is it important to students
01-0 Why do we need Data Warehousing
Understanding the need for strategic information
Recognize information crisis
Difference between Operational and Informational systems
What is the solution
01-2 Benefits of using DW
Immediate access to information
Data integration across the company
Even integrating data from outside organizations
Future vision from historical trends
Tools to look at data in new ways
Freedom from IS resource limitations
Applications using a DW
01-3 What is Business Intelligence
02-0 DW Components
Data modeling
Definition
Advantages and Disadvantages
Dimensional Modeling
Purpose
Draw Star Schema Diagram
Optimization – single join
Fact table
2 components -- 3 characteristics
Dimension tables
Simplicity of query example
Diagram from OLTP to Reporting
02-1 Additional Notes (possible reading) see 02-5
Dimensional modelling continued
Dimension and measures in Data Analysis (see 02-5 page 2)
Hierarchies within Dimensions (02-5)
Balanced, Unbalanced, Ragged
Concept of a cube
03-0 Steps in dimensional modelling
1 Choose a business process
2 Choose the grain of the fact table
3 Choose the dimensions based on the grain
4 Choose the facts that will populate the fact table
03-2 Practice exercises in dimensional modelling
Case 1: Personal Expense example see 03-2.2 page 7
Case 2: Given Manufacturing Scenario  grain and tables
Case 3: Given statement of grain  diagram
Case 4: Given Fact table Draw the star schema
Seneca Bookstore Case
04-0 Exercises
Fact table exercise
Design case 1 - order entry system
Design case relationship diagram HO
00-00-Weekly Schedule REV: 23 March 2016
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Design case 2 – from access database
Design Case 1 – good reading solution
Design case 1 modified – reading
04-1 Time Dimension
Time in DW
Problems
Twinkling or Temporal Inconsistencies
Slowly Changing Dimension (SCD)
Practice example – Seneca College FT/PT
Solutions to SCD -- 1, 2 and 3
Problems – Advantages and Disadvantages
04-2 Estimating the DW size
Examples demonstrating method used
Other examples as exercises see 05-1
05-0 Independent study
Readings 1
Surrogate key usage
Snowflake
Hierarchies
Aggregate storage methods
Partitions
Data Mart
Factless Fact tables
Definitions to learn
Readings 2
Alternate explanation that provide review
05-1 Labs – OLTP to Cubes
May be started earlier in semester
05-2 Self-study/Research
Review through studying/answering practice questions
06-0 Design assignment
07-0 Design Assignment
Design assignment is due
08-0 Reading Week Complete labs and finish readings and review
09-0 Test 1
Test on design and theory aspects of course
10-0 Practical project part 1
Design portion
11-0 Practical project part 2
Import data to SQL server
Develop a DW
Develop a cube
Prepare a set of reports
12-0 Practical project part 2
Continue to completion
13-0 Practical project part 3
Partition
Update DW with new data
14-0 Test 2 – on the practical part of the course
Test will cover going from OLTP to cube – done on-line
15-0 Exam
00-00-Weekly Schedule REV: 23 March 2016
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