ABSTRACT
The generic biomedical dimensional star in the prior chapter allows us to immediately have a logical model for the data warehouse without having to conduct extensive requirements or design sessions. Our goal of developing the Alpha version of the warehouse in 3-4 weeks wouldn’t be possible if you had to start from the beginning in figuring out what that logical model needed to include. Likewise, the speed with which you want to build the Alpha version also precludes conducting a lot of design activities around the database that will implement that logical model. Fortunately, a star dimension design pattern has emerged across the data warehousing community over the past two decades that allows you to implement your warehouse database almost immediately upon starting the Alpha phase project. This design pattern isn’t just a shortcut for the Alpha version; it actually constitutes most of the detailed table design needed for your data warehouse over the long haul. It is the reason why dimensional data warehousing can be done so quickly and effectively: It allows your database to be generated on the first day of the project.
