TDWI Dimensional Data Modeling Primer: From Requirements to Business Analysis Training

• Data architects
• Data mart developers
• Business analysts
• Business intelligence and data warehouse program and project managers

• Concepts of dimensional data modeling
• The relationship between business metrics and dimensional data
• Similarities and differences between relational and dimensional data models
• Requirements-gathering techniques for business metrics and dimensional data
• How to build a logical dimensional model
• How to translate a logical dimensional model to a star schema design
• How dimensional data is used to deliver business analytics and OLAP capabilities

Module One

Dimensional Modeling Concepts

• Dimensional Modeling in Context
  • Business Intelligence Defined
  • Data Warehousing Defined
  • Data Mart Defined
• Dimensional Modeling Basics
  • Dimensional Model Defined
  • Dimensional Modeling Defined
  • Business Metrics and Measures Defined
  • Business Metrics Examples
  • Dimensional Data Models
• Comparing E-R and Dimensional Models
  • A Quick Review of E-R Modeling
  • Introduction to Dimensional Models
  • Relational with Additional Constraints
  • A Basis for Comparison
  • Relational for Transaction Processing
  • Dimensional Data for Business Analysis
  • Conformed Dimensions
• Concepts Summary
  • Review of Some Key Points

Module Two

Requirements Gathering for Dimensional Models

• Business Context for Data Modeling
  • Business Value
  • Business Alignment
  • Business Process Alignment
• Business Questions as Requirements Models
  • A Framework for Business Questions
  • Examples
  • Refining Business Questions
• Fact/Qualifier Analysis
  • From Business Questions to Data Requirements
  • Mapping Business Questions
• Requirements Gathering Summary
  • Process Review

Module Three

Logical Dimensional Data Modeling

• ·Modeling Meters and Measures
  • A Group of Related Business Measures

Modeling Dimensions

• Adding Dimensions from Qualifiers
• Dimension Hierarchy
• Refining the Dimensions
• Completing the Dimensions
• More about Meters and Measures
  • Granularity and the Meter
  • Granularity and the Measures
  • Completing the Meter
• Model Verification
  • Testing the Model

Logical Modeling Summary

• Process Review

Module Four

From Logical Model to Star Schema

• Star Schema Dimensions
  • Naming the Dimensions
  • Modeling Dimension Tables
  • Defining Dimension Table Keys
• Star Schema Fact Tables
  • Modeling the Fact Table
  • Defining the Fact Table Key
  • Supporting Calculated Measures
  • Semi-Additive and Non-Additive Facts
• Star Schema Design Challenges
  • Slowly Changing Dimensions
  • Degenerate Dimensions
  • Junk Dimensions
  • Difficult Situations
• Modeling Process Summary
  • From Business Requirements to Star Schema

Module Five

Dimensional Data and Business Analysis

• Delivering Business Value
  • Data Enabled Business Analysis
  • Collecting, Analyzing, and Using Business Metrics
• Effective Dimensional Modeling
  • Critical Success Factors
  • Mistakes to Avoid
  • References and Learning Resources