The Enterprise Data Warehouse

I've teach Data Warehousing for a local University and have reviewed several data warehouseing books. This one describes Data Warehousing, the process of planning, building and implementing a DW that is well versed and understood easily. I have adopted this book for my course because it is very concise in its descriptions and easily read.

I found this book very interesting, especially for what concerns JAD and RAD iterative process. Excellent explanation of different data mining systems such as neural network and decision trees. I like the idea of showing examples based upon commercial products such as Decision Net or Red Brick. A good book. Every project manager involved in data warehousing projects should read it.

Only one word is needed to describe Mr. Sperley's book, The Enterprise Data Warehouse, Volume 1, and that is OUTSTANDING. This very readable book "grabbed" my attention from the beginning and I found it difficult to put it book down. This is definitely not another dry technical tome.The illustrations are excellent and well thought out. Brief reviews of earlier systems stimulate and hold our interest. The author builds his thesis on constructing a data warehouse using a methodology called joint application development (JAD). JAD is a team oriented approach to incorporating the Information Technology (IT) organization into the business community in a natural way.Used in conjunction with the spiral model of rapid application development (RAD) and its time boxing resource control and iterative processes, JAD provides a methodology that supports the critical definition of the executive vision and organization with valuable decision making information.The section on selections of data models and tools provides an excellent resource for defining data warehouse design requirement. The weak point of the book is its very limited Glossary. A book filled with a multitude of acronyms, although well defined as they are throughout the book, should be contained in the Glossary. In conclusion, I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the planning, building, and implementation of an enterprise data warehouse. In addition, I would strongly consider purchasing the companion Volume Two of this very readable book. Book Reviewer,William R Jennings