Architecture

August 3, 2021
Tech Target

Data architecture vs. information architecture: How they differ

Data architects collect the statistics and information architects put the numbers into context as they work symbiotically to bolster an enterprise’s data and business strategies. Read […]
June 20, 2018
Rick Sherman at Data Summit 2018

Modern Data Architecture—Avoiding the ‘One-Tool-Fits-All Trap

A modern data architecture for business intelligence and analytics has to support structured, unstructured, and semi-structured sources, as well as hybrid integration and also meet the […]
December 28, 2017

For BI, you must know the data integration process

Understanding the data integration process is central to self-service BI and data architecture design, consultant Rick Sherman says in an end-of-year look at data management trends. […]
October 26, 2017

Dataversity 2017

I’m excited to share with you that I’ll be presenting two unique sessions at DATAVERSITY’s Data Architecture Summit in Chicago, IL on November 13-16, 2017.  I’m also […]
April 12, 2016

Enterprise Data World 2016 – San Diego

The 20th annual Enterprise Data World (EDW) Conference is recognized as the most comprehensive educational conference on data management in the world. Rick Sherman will be conducing […]
May 11, 2015

Data Summit 2015 – NYC

I’m speaking at Data Summit 2015 on Tuesday May 12 in New York. If you’re attending, please come to my session and say hello! B102: Creating […]
March 20, 2013

5 Principles of Analytical Hub Architecture – Part 2

Continuing the discussion on analytical hub design, here’s the second part of my post on the architecture principles. If you missed the first two principles (1. […]
March 14, 2013

5 Principles of Analytical Hub Architecture – Part 1

As I discused the other day in Why you need an analytical hub, enterprises need to spend time looking forward, rather than just backwards at historical […]
March 11, 2013

Why you need an analytical hub

Enterprises are flooded with a deluge of data about their customers, prospects, business processes, suppliers, partners and competitors. It comes from traditional internal systems, cloud applications, social networking and […]
March 8, 2013

Analytics Can Change Your Business

In his article in Big Data, Bob Eve offers this quote from Professors Andrew McAfee and Erik Brynjolfsson of MIT: “Companies that inject Big Data and […]
January 11, 2012

Connecting the Dots: Misunderstood Dimensional Models

One of the debates one hears when designing a data warehouse  is that it should be normalized. Specifically, they say to use a third normal form […]
January 11, 2011

Analytical database tips: deployment advice and potential challenges

The first part of this article discussed columnar database software and other technologies that can help boost analytics performance. But regardless of which analytical database technology […]
January 10, 2011

Improving BI performance without breaking the bank

Demand from business users for actionable information is ever-expanding. And with business managers and workers seemingly connected 24/7 via their iPhones, BlackBerrys, iPads and other devices, […]
January 6, 2010

Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence Contract Jobs in Massachusetts

Athena IT Solutions is looking for data warehousing and business intelligence consultants for contract jobs in Massachusetts. Senior Data Warehouse Architect Senior Data Warehousing/Business Intelligence Program/Project […]
September 18, 2009

Database Wars: Fighting Yesterday’s Battle?

A recent flurry of news articles in the database industry has reinforced my perceptions that the software titans have lost touch with current market needs.  The PR […]
December 11, 2008

Get the architecture right and good things will happen

My new podcast with Smart Data Collective discusses how too many IT projects provide only short-term solutions. Management ends up frustrated not only because of the […]
November 21, 2008

Data warehouse architecture that’s too narrowly focused

In my DM Review columns, “The Accidental Architecture” and “Recovering from the Accidental Architecture,” I discussed whether people understood the “why” of best practices, such as dimensional modeling […]
November 19, 2008

Learn WHY you should design a data warehouse a certain way

People involved in business intelligence (BI) and data warehousing (DW) projects are very familiar with terms such as facts, dimensions, attributes, surrogate keys and slowly changing […]
October 16, 2008

Recovering from the Accidental Architecture

In my article “The Accidental Architecture,” I discussed how enterprises have evolved their data warehousing (DW) and business intelligence (BI) projects without a planned architecture. This […]
October 14, 2008

The Accidental Architecture

When you plan to build a house, you start with what you want and can afford. You decide on architectural style, size and number of rooms. […]
September 11, 2008

Hub and Spoke on the Wane?

Conventional wisdom states that you should build a data warehouse (DW) and then populate data marts from it. This data architecture is called a hub and […]
May 12, 2008

Don’t Stop at How, Learn Why

People involved in business intelligence (BI) and data warehousing (DW) projects are very familiar with terms such as facts, dimensions, attributes, surrogate keys and slowly changing […]
May 25, 2007

Operational BI – Four Flawed Assumptions

Operational business intelligence (BI) can be an integral part of a portfolio of BI solutions. But before you put it to use, see my May DM […]
January 18, 2007

The Trial-and-Error Method for Data Architecture

As a coach of my sons’ soccer teams, I’ve noticed something that occasionally holds back the ambitious players. Rather than focusing on basics, such as learning […]
November 22, 2006

Microsoft: supersize that data warehouse?

Microsoft is trying to change the perception that its database, SQL Server 2005, is not ready for the big leagues in regards to handling large data […]
June 1, 2006

Data Integration Myth #2: Developing an information architecture is a waste of time, let’s just get on with building the data warehouse.

Been there, done that. That’s how we ended up with multiple data warehouses, data marts, and ERP, CPM and SCM solutions that need to be reconciled. […]
November 12, 2005

The Enterprise Data Warehouse Strikes Again, Part II

As we discussed in my previous column, big data warehouses are back in style. In a 2004 TDWI study, 60 percent of respondents indicated that they were adopting […]
November 12, 2005

The Enterprise Data Warehouse Strikes Again, Part 1

Just like boot-cut jeans and fuel-efficient cars, big data warehouses are coming back in style.  Take a trip down memory lane, when IBM introduced the corporate […]
June 12, 2005

ODS Redux, Part 2

In part 1 of this article we discussed the ugly duckling called an operational data store (ODS). Rather than discussing the conventional wisdom and, quite frankly, the […]
June 12, 2005

ODS Redux, Part 1

What do you call that thing that’s holding your data? Don’t know? Then it must be an operational data store (ODS). No term has been muddied […]
May 12, 2005

Hub-and-Spoke Redux

Religious wars. We have them in IT all the time. Everyone debates architecture. The “high priests” of our trade guard it. The approaches espoused by Ralph […]
April 12, 2005

Mitigating Meta Data Misery

The thought of meta data management doesn’t exactly inspire whoops of joy from the average IT manager. However, like flossing, it’s one of those things you’ve […]
March 12, 2005

Data Franchising

If you’re trying to architect or build a cost-effective, productive business intelligence (BI) program, it’s important that you thoroughly understand the data franchising component of the […]
May 13, 2004

Architecture Standards

In a previous article, I discussed the importance of adhering to product and technology standards to increase both the ROI of your IT investments and the value […]
December 13, 2003

Understanding the DIF Information Architecture

In an earlier column, I provided an overview of the five data integration framework (DIF) components. This month, I will examine the first component ­ –information […]