Reviews for The Data Warehouse Lifecycle Toolkit: Tools and Techniques for Designing, Developing and Deploying Data Marts and Data Warehouses

1. One good way of building a Data Warehouse

   Rated 5 out of 5 stars, January 12th, 2010

   The first thing to remember os that Kimball does not have the ONLY way of building data warehouses. In fact I have a personal preference for the Inmon style of construction. Nonetheless Kimball is a super way of building highly effective datamarts and warehouses. This book is excellent at doing what it claims to do. It really dfoes give one tools and techniques that can be applied in real life. When used with the right design tools this book is a bit of a godsend. I would definately buy it again as even with 15 years data warehouse experience there are still a few nuggets in here for me.

2. Nice piece on Data Warehouse Clarity

   Rated 4 out of 5 stars, November 12th, 2009

   This book really does go down and starts from the basics on understanding the data warehouse concept as well as practical 'howto' get your project successfully from kick to the completion and commencement of next iteration.

3. Kimball Group - read this to boost your skills and career!

   Rated 5 out of 5 stars, April 12th, 2009

   Another totaly must-have book by the Kimball Group. This 2nd edition is a great improvement over the original (which was published 10 years ago), with lots of new material and some re-visits on previous older but still relevant aspects.
   
   This is a must read for anybody aspiring to DW/BI guru-dom.
   

4. A refference book

   Rated 3 out of 5 stars, April 12th, 2007

   This is definitly what i consider to be a refference book. I've read individual chapters but would not think about reading it cover to cover.
   
   I also think that people over rate kimball. I'm not saying what he says is wrong, i just think there are other answers too. Kimball avoids a normalised integration layer but ive found it really useful.
   
   Also, federated data warehousing is becomming a vaiable option which isnt covered in the book.
   
   To use all the steps in the book would burn the budget of any dw project fast. You really have to be pragmattic about which steps you use.
   
   in summary: well written, great chapters on dimensional modeling but by no means should this book be the be all and end all in data warehousing.

5. Good, but too management-like, not technical enough

   Rated 3 out of 5 stars, February 12th, 2007

   This is quite a good book but it is too management-like for me.
   It covers the whole data-warehouse process including business requirement gathering and project management.
   If you want a more technically orrientated book that covers the all important modelling aspects, Kimballs other book "The data warehoue toolkit - the complete guide to dimensional modelling" is much much better.
   I can't help thinking that Kimball et al wrote this book after that modelling one in an attempt to cash in on the sucess of the modelling book.
   In summary, if you're a technician buy the modelling book - if you're a manager who wants an overview, buy this one.