SPI CA OLTP Vs DW Project management

DATA SYSTEMS

• Planning and developing DSS projects have unique challenges for project
managers.
• DSS and OLTP systems are not the same type of beast to tame and should be
approached differently.
• The relatively short duration and iterative nature of DSS projects suggest that
typical project approaches that are routinely used on OLTP projects may be
somewhat inadequate for DSS endeavors.
• DSS projects do not necessarily deliver a finished, turnkey product as is typical
with an OLTP system; rather each DSS project delivers another layer in an
evolving information delivery system.
• Large OLTP development projects tend to be unique by delivering discrete
functional capability to the business; however, the nature of DSS projects
suggests that these projects are more about data integration than true
application development.
• Thus, they are not as unique as large monolithic OLTP projects.
• DSS projects, once begun, have an inherent, repeatable nature that seeks to
integrate and deliver more information better and faster from more sources via
ongoing, evolving data warehousing or data mart efforts.
SPI CA OLTP Vs DW Project management..
DATA SYSTEMS

• OLTP projects, call for ground-up planning and uniquely customized

project plans to build one-of-a-kind information systems.
• The detailed content of each individual OLTP project plan remains
relatively unique from project to project.
• The traditional concept of OLTP project planning may likely include
the notion of phases within the overall project wherein tasks are
organized time-sequentially in large precedence groupings (or
phases).
• For example, tasks organized in the initial analysis phase are
completed prior to completing tasks in the succeeding design phase
that, in turn, precedes the completion of tasks in the later
development phase, etc.
SPI CA OLTP Vs DW Project management..
DATA SYSTEMS

• In the DSS arena, projects tend to be smaller scale, shorter duration

and very iterative, adding incremental value to an evolving data
warehouse or data mart.

• Contrary to one-time-use OLTP project plans, DSS project plans

may be formulated into functional templates to be used over and
over again with relatively minor changes reflecting new data
sources, new data targets and new delivery time lines.

• The project plan itself becomes part of the repeatable process of

iterative and rapid DSS system deployment.
 Managing a Warehouse Project
SPI CA
DATA SYSTEMS

• Determine organizational readiness for the warehouse

• Adopt incremental approach to warehouse development
• Set expectations
• Manage expectations
• Assemble the project team
• Estimate the data warehouse project
• Recognize the critical success factors