Search Our Essay Database

Essay Instructions: Project Deliverable 3: Database and Data Warehousing Design
Due Week 5 and worth 110 points

This assignment consists of two (2) sections: a design document and a revised project plan. You must submit both sections as separate files for the completion of this assignment. Label each file name according to the section of the assignment it is written for. Additionally, you may create and / or assume all necessary assumptions needed for the completion of this assignment.

One of the main functions of any business is to be able to use data to leverage a strategic competitive advantage. This feat hinges upon a company?s ability to transform data into quality information. The use of relational databases is a necessity for contemporary organizations; however, data warehousing has become a strategic priority due to the enormous amounts of data that must be analyzed along with the varying sources from which data comes. Since you are now the CIO of a data-collection company which gathers data by using Web analytics and operational systems, you must design a solution overview that incorporates data warehousing. The executive team needs to be clear about what data warehousing can provide the company.

Section 1: Design Document
Write a four page design document in which you:
Support the need for data warehousing within your company and elaborate on the best practices that the company will adhere to.
Create a schema that supports the company?s business and processes. Explain and support the database schema with relevant arguments that support the rationale for the structure. Note: The minimum requirement for the schema should entail the tables, fields, relationships, views, and indexes.
Create an Entity-Relationship (E-R) Diagram relating the tables of your database schema through the use of graphical tools in Microsoft Visio or an open source alternative such as Dia. Note: The graphically depicted solution is not included in the required page length but must be included in the design document appendix. Explain your rationale behind the design of your E-R Diagram.
Create a Data Flow Diagram (DFD) relating the tables of your database schema through the use of graphical tools in Microsoft Visio or an open source alternative such as Dia. Note: The graphically depicted solution is not included in the required page length but must be included in the design document appendix.
Illustrate the flow of data including both inputs and outputs for the use of a data warehouse. The diagram must map data between source systems, data warehouses and specified data marts. The diagram should map data between source systems, data warehouses, and specified data marts. Note: The graphically depicted solution is not included in the required page length.
Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:
Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student?s name, the professor?s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
Include charts or diagrams created in MS Visio or Dia as an appendix of the design document. All references to these diagrams must be included in the body of the design document.

Section 2: Revised Project Plan

Use Microsoft Project to:
Update the project plan from Project Deliverable 2: Business Requirements, with three to five (3-5) new project tasks each consisting of five to ten (5-10) sub-tasks.

Essay Instructions: Term Paper: Data Warehousing and Data Mining
Due Week 10 and worth 150 points
Your database has been a hit. You have been called back to the customer?s headquarters and they want a detailed report and plan of how to convert the mass amounts of data into profitable information. They have heard of data warehouses and data mining, but they want you to provide an executive overview and a plan with specifics on how they will take their environment to the next level with the implementation of a data warehouse and data mining infrastructure.
Write a six to eight (6-8) page paper in which you:
1. Provide an executive overview that addresses the following:
a. Explain the benefits and current trends of data warehousing and data mining.
b. Provide two(2) examples of quality companies successfully using data warehousing to support your answer.
2. Discuss optimization techniques specific to data warehousing and data mioning.
3. Assue the company has accumulated 20TB of data and that 20% per year growth is expected in the size of the Data Warehouse. Recommend a solution for this scenario with respect to software, hardware, and network requirements.
4. Create a diagrame using Viso, Microsoft Paint, or other graphical creation utility of your choosing to illustrate the conceptual data feeds into and out of the data warehouse. Note: The graphically depicted solution is not included in the require page length.
5. Use at lease three (3) quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar Websites do not qualify as quality sources.

Essay Instructions: One inch margins (top, bottom, sides)

Times New Roman 12 point font

Double spaced

Running head and page numbers on upper right corner

The topic must address some aspect of data warehousing. Possible topics are:
**Metadata repository for the data warehouse
**Privacy issues associated with data warehousing
**Reporting and analysis from the data warehouse
**Infrastructure issues associated with a data warehouse
**Data marts
**User interfaces to the data warehouse
**Issues associated with multiple sources to the data warehouse
**Advantages/Disadvantages of implementing an Operational **Data Store with a data warehouse
**Resolution of Data Security issues in the data warehouse
**Resolution of Data Quality issues in the data warehouse
**Use of a staging database for the data entering the data warehouse.

The objective of the paper is to "research" the topic. It is not to do a design.

Essay Instructions: For the last two modules we will change the focus slightly. We will look at the SAP Business Objects* site: http://www.sap.com/solutions/sapbusinessobjects/customers/index.epx

Please choose between one and three of these solutions each module and create a 2-3 page report on:
WRITE ON AIR FORCE MATERIAL COMMAND AND ARTS UMBRELLA SOLUTIONS. THESE CAN BE FOUND ON THE LINK ABOVE.

What do you think is the purpose of the tool represented?
What business issues are being addressed?
What do you think can be learned from these tools?
In what situations do you think these tools are useful?
How can and/or could you apply these tools in your organization, career, or personal life? (Note: I am not looking for a long essay on this but rather than you have critically thought,about and applied the concepts discussed.)
What is your overall evaluation of the tools? (Make sure you give specifics and the basis of your evaluation).

SOURCES FOR BACKGROUND READINGS THAT NEED TO BE INCORPORATED IN THIS PAPER:
Betancourt, L. How Companies are using your Social Media Data, Retrieved on July 26, 2010 from http://www.enterpriseirregulars.com/5706/the-top-10-trends-for-2010-in-analytics-business-intelligence-and-performance-management/

Greenfield, L. (2005) The Case for Data Warehousing Retrieved Retrieved on July 26, 2010 from the World Wide Web:http://www.dwinfocenter.org/casefor.html

Greenfield, L.Greenfield, L. (2005) The Case Against Data Warehousing Retrieved Retrieved on July 26, 2010 from the World Wide Web:http://www.dwinfocenter.org/against.html

Hadfield, M. (2009) Case Study:Jaeger uses data mining to reduce losses from crime and waste Retrieved Retrieved on July 26, 2010 from http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2009/02/23/234953/case-study-jaeger-uses-data-mining-to-reduce-losses-from-crime-and.htm

Thearling, K. (2009) An Introduction to Data Mining. Retrieved July 26, 2010 from http://www.thearling.com/dmintro/dmintro_2.htm



Like the rest of the Crystal Xcelsius, the SAP component is an excellent source for Business Intelligence software. Because of their currency in the market, they constantly updating their site. That can present a problem with some temporary broken links and/or changes. Please feel free to use the materials on the site even if not exactly as specified. If the other requirements are met the assignment will be accepted.

SLP Expectations, and Grading Criteria:

Your paper will be evaluated on the following criteria (meeting minimum requirements is B performance):

_ Followed SLP instructions and completed activities.

_ Length of 2-3 pages (since a page is about 300 words, this is approximately 600-900 words)

_ Conducted evaluation and analysis as required

_ Precision: the questions asked are answered.

_ Clarity: Your answers are clear and show your good understanding of the topic.

_ Breadth and Depth: The scope covered in your paper is directly related to the questions of the assignment and the learning objectives of the module.

_ Critical thinking: It is important to read the "required readings" posted in the background material plus others you find relevant. Your paper should include important concepts from these readings and incorporate YOUR reactions and examples that illustrate your reflective judgment and good understanding of the concepts.

_Your paper is well written and the references are properly cited and listed