Investigating pluralistic data architectures in data warehousing

Abstract

Understanding and managing change is a strategic objective for many organisations to successfully compete in a market place; as a result, organisations are leveraging their data asset and implementing data warehouses to gain business intelligence necessary to improve their businesses. Data warehouses are expensive initiatives, one-half to two-thirds of most data warehousing efforts end in failure. In the absence of well-formalised design methodology in the industry and in the context of the debate on data architecture in data warehousing, this thesis examines why multidimensional and relational data models define the data architecture landscape in the industry. The study develops a number of propositions from the literature and empirical data to understand the factors impacting the choice of logical data model in data warehousing. Using a comparative case study method as the mean of collecting empirical data from the case organisations, the research proposes a conceptual model for logical data model adoption. The model provides a framework that guides decision making for adopting a logical data model for a data warehouse. The research conceptual model identifies the characteristics of business requirements and decision pathways for multidimensional and relational data warehouses. The conceptual model adds value by identifying the business requirements which a multidimensional and relational logical data model is empirically applicable.