The Data Warehouse Toolkit

A thorough update to the industry standard for designing, developing, and deploying data warehouse and business intelligence systems The world of data warehousing has changed remarkably since the first edition of The Data Warehouse Lifecycle Toolkit was published in 1998. In that time, the data warehouse industry has reached full maturity and acceptance, hardware and software have made staggering advances, and the techniques promoted in the premiere edition of this book have been adopted by nearly all data warehouse vendors and practitioners. In addition, the term «business intelligence» emerged to reflect the mission of the data warehouse: wrangling the data out of source systems, cleaning it, and delivering it to add value to the business. Ralph Kimball and his colleagues have refined the original set of Lifecycle methods and techniques based on their consulting and training experience. The authors understand first-hand that a data warehousing/business intelligence (DW/BI) system needs to change as fast as its surrounding organization evolves. To that end, they walk you through the detailed steps of designing, developing, and deploying a DW/BI system. You'll learn to create adaptable systems that deliver data and analyses to business users so they can make better business decisions.

Best practices and invaluable advice from world-renowned data warehouse experts In this book, leading data warehouse experts from the Kimball Group share best practices for using the upcoming “Business Intelligence release” of SQL Server, referred to as SQL Server 2008 R2. In this new edition, the authors explain how SQL Server 2008 R2 provides a collection of powerful new tools that extend the power of its BI toolset to Excel and SharePoint users and they show how to use SQL Server to build a successful data warehouse that supports the business intelligence requirements that are common to most organizations. Covering the complete suite of data warehousing and BI tools that are part of SQL Server 2008 R2, as well as Microsoft Office, the authors walk you through a full project lifecycle, including design, development, deployment and maintenance. Features more than 50 percent new and revised material that covers the rich new feature set of the SQL Server 2008 R2 release, as well as the Office 2010 release Includes brand new content that focuses on PowerPivot for Excel and SharePoint, Master Data Services, and discusses updated capabilities of SQL Server Analysis, Integration, and Reporting Services Shares detailed case examples that clearly illustrate how to best apply the techniques described in the book The accompanying Web site contains all code samples as well as the sample database used throughout the case studies The Microsoft Data Warehouse Toolkit, Second Edition provides you with the knowledge of how and when to use BI tools such as Analysis Services and Integration Services to accomplish your most essential data warehousing tasks.

Cowritten by Ralph Kimball, the world's leading data warehousing authority, whose previous books have sold more than 150,000 copies Delivers real-world solutions for the most time- and labor-intensive portion of data warehousing-data staging, or the extract, transform, load (ETL) process Delineates best practices for extracting data from scattered sources, removing redundant and inaccurate data, transforming the remaining data into correctly formatted data structures, and then loading the end product into the data warehouse Offers proven time-saving ETL techniques, comprehensive guidance on building dimensional structures, and crucial advice on ensuring data quality

The new edition of the classic bestseller that launched the data warehousing industry covers new approaches and technologies, many of which have been pioneered by Inmon himself In addition to explaining the fundamentals of data warehouse systems, the book covers new topics such as methods for handling unstructured data in a data warehouse and storing data across multiple storage media Discusses the pros and cons of relational versus multidimensional design and how to measure return on investment in planning data warehouse projects Covers advanced topics, including data monitoring and testing Although the book includes an extra 100 pages worth of valuable content, the price has actually been reduced from $65 to $55

This is the first book to provide in-depth coverage of star schema aggregates used in dimensional modeling-from selection and design, to loading and usage, to specific tasks and deliverables for implementation projects Covers the principles of aggregate schema design and the pros and cons of various types of commercial solutions for navigating and building aggregates Discusses how to include aggregates in data warehouse development projects that focus on incremental development, iterative builds, and early data loads

An evidence-based organizational framework for exceptional analytics team results The Analytics Lifecycle Toolkit provides managers with a practical manual for integrating data management and analytic technologies into their organization. Author Gregory Nelson has encountered hundreds of unique perspectives on analytics optimization from across industries; over the years, successful strategies have proven to share certain practices, skillsets, expertise, and structural traits. In this book, he details the concepts, people and processes that contribute to exemplary results, and shares an organizational framework for analytics team functions and roles. By merging analytic culture with data and technology strategies, this framework creates understanding for analytics leaders and a toolbox for practitioners. Focused on team effectiveness and the design thinking surrounding product creation, the framework is illustrated by real-world case studies to show how effective analytics team leadership works on the ground. Tools and templates include best practices for process improvement, workforce enablement, and leadership support, while guidance includes both conceptual discussion of the analytics life cycle and detailed process descriptions. Readers will be equipped to: Master fundamental concepts and practices of the analytics life cycle Understand the knowledge domains and best practices for each stage Delve into the details of analytical team processes and process optimization Utilize a robust toolkit designed to support analytic team effectiveness The analytics life cycle includes a diverse set of considerations involving the people, processes, culture, data, and technology, and managers needing stellar analytics performance must understand their unique role in the process of winnowing the big picture down to meaningful action. The Analytics Lifecycle Toolkit provides expert perspective and much-needed insight to managers, while providing practitioners with a new set of tools for optimizing results.

This publication focuses on the critical methods that can be used to dramatically improve the fiscal closing process. The Record to Report (R2R) or Fiscal Closing Process is at the core of the controllership function. The process includes transaction processing, internal and external reporting, and the internal controls—the people, processes, and technology—that constitute the corporate organizational hierarchy. CFOs, controllers, and corporate finance departments require timely, accurate, and consistent data to make appropriate operational and strategic decisions and fulfill statutory, regulatory, and compliance requirements with accurate and timely data. The Fast Close Toolkit offers both strategic and tactical suggestions that can significantly improve the fiscal closing process and provides guidance on new legislation requirements, systems and best practice processes. Checklists, templates, process narratives, and sample policies are provided for every component of the fiscal close. Investors and shareholders expect fast and easy access to the data created by current business activities in the information-driven digital age. The Fast Close Toolkit provides the necessary tools and expert advice to improve the fiscal closing process. Authoritative and up to date, this book: Identifies the bottlenecks that can impact the and improvethe fiscal close process and provides best practices to help alleviate these challenges Defines the Record to Report (R2R) and recommends the roles and responsibilities for fiscal close processes flow Offers the internal controls to use for the end-to-end fiscal close process Describes approaches for risk management, R2R, and fiscal close benchmarking Identifies KPIs for all aspects of the R2R process Provides the mechanism for developing a financial close scorecard Recommends leading practices for both external and internal reporting Provides guidance on how strategic planning, the budget and forecast processes can be streamlined to enhance the fiscal close and internal reporting results Written by a respected expert on internal controls and the fiscal closing process, The Fast Close Toolkit is a valuable source of information for professionals involved in controllership and have responsibility for the fiscal close.

Discover the 10 best Coaching practices for solving problems and implementing change with clients–right away Coaching works, there's no doubt about that. But the coaching industry is going through tremendous change that all professional coaches need to address. Equipping coaching professionals to stay on the cutting-edge of their craft, The Business Coaching Toolkit: Top 10 Strategies for Solving the Toughest Dilemmas Facing Organizations expertly provides a collection of application-based, proven tools that present creative solutions to common situations encountered in today's workplace. This hands-on guide creatively empowers professionals to: * Achieve greater performance by identifying and maximizing strengths and managing weaknesses * Lead their team or client through setting specific, measurable, and reasonable goals * Discover the deeper meaning of vision and tie goals into the client's core values * Guide clients through a comprehensive analysis of their current situation–the good, the bad, and the ugly Whether it's increasing a client's time management skills, giving feedback to an employee, or building a leadership team, The Business Coaching Toolkit presents a valuable supply of straightforward exercises designed to bring a new dimension to every coaching professional's work with clients.

Master the navigation of private equity deals from sourcing to exit with this comprehensive guide   The Private Equity Toolkit : A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Deals Done from Sourcing to Exit  offers readers the first complete guide to executing a private equity deal from start to finish. Written by an accomplished professional with twenty years of experience in the private equity space, this book is perfect for current private equity analysts and associates, as well as business students and professionals seeking to enter the private equity field.  This book covers every stage of the private equity process, from sourcing the deal to company exit. It provides a systematic overview of how to:  · Originate attractive investment opportunities;  · Generate superior deal insights;  · Form effective working relationships with management teams;  · Add value on portfolio company boards; and  · Achieve profitable investment exits.  The Private Equity Toolkit  equips its readers with actionable frameworks and proprietary tools that can be applied on a daily basis in the private equity industry. The content found within is designed to be current and helpful for years to come and appeals to a global audience.