News

News

• February 28, 2014 28 Feb'14

  Data quality assessment requires business ties -- and a human touch

  In an interview, author and data quality architect Laura Sebastian-Coleman discusses steps organizations should take to improve data quality levels.

• November 06, 2013 06 Nov'13

  University lecturer reports bad news about your information governance program

  The key to getting executive buy-in for an information governance program is putting things in terms that C-Level executives can understand.

• November 06, 2013 06 Nov'13

  IBM BLU Acceleration portfolio gets an update at IOD conference

  Research analyst Joe Clabby dishes the skinny on the big data hardware market and the expansion of the IBM BLU Acceleration portfolio.

• October 31, 2013 31 Oct'13

  In relational database design, don't shortchange requirements stage

  Requirements gathering shouldn't get short shrift in the database rush, says Michael J. Hernandez, author of 'Database Design for Mere Mortals.'

• October 15, 2013 15 Oct'13

  Google's big data infrastructure: Don't try this at home?

  Google's Jeromy Carriere spoke about the search engine giant's big data infrastructure at a recent TDWI meeting. Should it influence other efforts?

• May 07, 2013 07 May'13

  Data warehouse performance killers -- and how to avoid them

  In a podcast Q&A, consultant William McKnight offers advice on steering clear of common hazards that can puncture the performance of data warehouses.

• April 16, 2013 16 Apr'13

  Would-be Softie embraces another IT leadership path

  He could have been part of Microsoft's meteoric rise in the 1980s, but Quintiles Inc. global IT director John Poonnen seized another day.

• March 07, 2013 07 Mar'13

  Motorcycle icon Yamaha updates dealer site with fast database drivers

  Database drivers are sometimes an afterthought. But JDBC drivers came to the fore when Yamaha Motor Europe rebuilt its e-commerce website for dealers.

• March 01, 2013 01 Mar'13

  Confronting MapReduce, Hadoop problems and complexities

  The challenges of using Hadoop and its MapReduce programming model confront big data users. But taking some good first steps can help avoid problems.

• January 10, 2013 10 Jan'13

  'Big data' in motion: Where does it make sense?

  Data architects creating operational business intelligence applications may need to put streams of Hadoop data into a fast messaging infrastructure.

• December 18, 2012 18 Dec'12

  Gartner Magic Quadrant: Customer MDM market maturing despite confusion

  This year's Magic Quadrant for customer MDM software reveals a market nearing maturity, yet still brimming with diverse products and vendors.

• October 11, 2012 11 Oct'12

  IT pros reveal benefits, drawbacks of data virtualization software

  Attendees at Composite Software's Data Virtualization Day conference had plenty of advice for companies considering a data virtualization project.

• August 19, 2012 19 Aug'12

  Make communication, purpose priorities in a data governance program

  Data governance can be all bureaucracy and no benefit. To avoid that, managing the process effectively is a must, says consultant Danette McGilvray.

• August 12, 2012 12 Aug'12

  Decision time: Automated data integration tools versus manual coding

  In many companies, data integration remains a manual task -- by choice. But it might be time to automate that process, says consultant Rick Sherman.

• August 08, 2012 08 Aug'12

  Mission impossible? Data governance process takes on 'big data'

  Effective governance can help companies get the most out of their "big data" environments. But at this point, there's no formula for how to do that.

• July 28, 2012 28 Jul'12

  Internal data quality standards not just a game for business users

  Ensuring that business users follow corporate standards when entering and updating data is vital to the success of data quality improvement efforts.

• July 03, 2012 03 Jul'12

  Zornes: MDM software vendors struggling with data governance

  Master data management vendors and practitioners face some difficulties in linking MDM and data governance initiatives, consultant Aaron Zornes says.

• June 12, 2012 12 Jun'12

  Data quality process needs all hands on deck

  Data accuracy is critical in technology-driven business processes, making it a must to involve business users in data quality efforts, analysts say.

• May 11, 2012 11 May'12

  Bank of America IT exec: EIM drivers key to shaping project plans

  Enterprise information management programs should be molded around clear business objectives, says a senior information architect at Bank of America.

• March 28, 2012 28 Mar'12

  IBM users reveal five data governance best practices to remember

  IBM customers Nationwide Insurance and Cardinal Health reveal five rules of thumb they learned while implementing highly ambitious data governance programs.

• March 08, 2012 08 Mar'12

  Data governance programs expose hills to climb on path to success

  IT professionals from Sallie Mae and Fannie Mae offered insight on data governance challenges and tips on how to overcome them in separate sessions at two recent conferences.

• February 29, 2012 29 Feb'12

  'Big data' management changing the face of data warehousing

  Gartner says the onslaught of “big data” is turning data warehouses into distributed data processing platforms. But Hadoop and other big data tools aren’t as widespread as you might think -- yet.

• February 27, 2012 27 Feb'12

  Categorizing 'big data' processing systems

  In the past, analytics applications typically were powered by relational databases. Now the options are more varied and less straightforward, says TechTarget's Wayne Eckerson.

• February 01, 2012 01 Feb'12

  AAA picks Dell Boomi cloud integration tools over IBM, Jitterbit

  A local AAA auto club serving three western states is using cloud-based data integration tools to help drive an aggressive cloud computing strategy.

• December 08, 2011 08 Dec'11

  ComScore moves 'big data' analytics environment from Cloudera to MapR

  IT officials at Web intelligence firm comScore Inc. explain why they switched to a new Hadoop distribution for managing its vast pool of online data.

• September 15, 2011 15 Sep'11

  Can't Inmon and Kimball just get along?

  A longtime data management professional illustrates the synergies that exist between the Inmon and Kimball data warehousing methodologies.

• September 13, 2011 13 Sep'11

  Bill Inmon: Kimball methodology ignores the value of textual data

  In an interview, data warehousing pioneer Bill Inmon states his case on the merits of his namesake methodology vs. Ralph Kimball's and discusses the "DW 2.0" version of the Inmon architecture.

• September 01, 2011 01 Sep'11

  Omaha Power makes the business case for data modeling tools

  Data warehouse architect Bill Harrison explains how he got the go-ahead to purchase a new set of graphical data modeling tools.

• August 11, 2011 11 Aug'11

  Customary data warehouse concepts vs. Hadoop: Forrester makes the call

  Forrester analyst James Kobielus discusses traditional data warehouse concepts, Hadoop and the three best ways to start making sense of "big data."

• August 09, 2011 09 Aug'11

  'Big data' sprawl forces new thinking on data warehouse strategies

  The flood of "big data," particularly unstructured information, is pushing organizations to look beyond traditional data warehousing. That creates new opportunities but also new challenges.

• July 29, 2011 29 Jul'11

  Sallie Mae exec: Meetings, metrics spur data governance best practices

  In an interview, Michele Koch discusses the data governance program she leads at Sallie Mae and provides insight on key governance best practices.

• July 28, 2011 28 Jul'11

  Dealing with 'big data' challenges: Real-world strategies and advice

  IT pros and analysts offer guidance on how to cope with the complexities of "big data" installations in data warehouses and alternative data stores.

• July 14, 2011 14 Jul'11

  Avoiding the pitfalls of deploying packaged data warehouse systems

  Vendors tout data warehouse appliances as easier to install than traditional data warehouses are. But there are deployment challenges to be aware of.

• July 13, 2011 13 Jul'11

  Data warehouse hardware, software bundles: benefits vs. limitations

  Data warehouse appliances can make it easier for organizations to take advantage of data warehousing technology. But they also have some potential drawbacks to be aware of.

• June 24, 2011 24 Jun'11

  Navigating the data management lifecycle: end-to-end info management

  Building effective processes for managing data throughout its lifecycle can help maximize the value of information. But that’s easier said than done.

• June 22, 2011 22 Jun'11

  Creating an effective enterprise information management program

  Enterprise information management aims to optimize the use of data as a corporate asset. But setting up an EIM program presents a variety of challenges and potential missteps to watch out for.

• June 14, 2011 14 Jun'11

  Consultants emphasize the need for proactive data quality management

  Consultants and IT pros offer tips on creating highly proactive data quality management strategies – and on overcoming the challenges that presents.

• May 03, 2011 03 May'11

  Informatica Cloud update addresses growing trend toward 'hybrid IT'

  Informatica Cloud Summer 2011 includes new features for organizations that want to tighten integration between SaaS and in-house applications.

• April 21, 2011 21 Apr'11

  Disney discovers a whole new world of data warehouse best practices

  The director of data warehousing and analytics at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts shares some important BI and data warehouse best practices.

• April 13, 2011 13 Apr'11

  From the Editors: Database consolidation and standardization 101

  If you’re thinking about embarking on a database consolidation or standardization project, make sure you know the technical, cultural and skill-set issues that can arise.

• March 25, 2011 25 Mar'11

  What is data redundancy?

  The truth is redundancy of data is absolutely a normal part of life.

• March 23, 2011 23 Mar'11

  Capacity planning for the data warehouse environment

  Capacity planning is essential for all data warehouse environments. Data warehouses grow at high rates and must be managed to keep budgets under control.

• March 23, 2011 23 Mar'11

  Gartner Magic Quadrant ranks data warehouse appliance vendors

  EMC-Greenplum is a new "leader" in the latest Gartner Magic Quadrant report on data warehouse software and appliance vendors. Find out who else tops Gartner's rankings.

• March 17, 2011 17 Mar'11

  From the Editors: Analytical MDM sets up enterprise MDM, but plan well

  An analytical master data management project can be a great way to start an enterprise MDM program, but with certain conditions. Get tips for starting an analytical MDM project at your company.

• March 14, 2011 14 Mar'11

  What not to do on an analytical MDM project: Five mistakes to avoid

  Analytical MDM initiatives can go horribly wrong, thanks to some common missteps. Get expert advice on mistakes to avoid when designing and implementing an analytical MDM project.

• March 03, 2011 03 Mar'11

  Before database standardization, check skill sets, compatibility

  Database standardization projects require special attention to internal skill sets, cultural issues and technical factors such as database semantics, according to analysts.

• February 22, 2011 22 Feb'11

  Forrester: Expect more enterprise data warehouse software bundles

  Enterprises can expect an influx of preconfigured data warehouse packages geared toward specific industries or business functions, according to a new Forrester Wave report.

• January 11, 2011 11 Jan'11

  Gartner Magic Quadrant reveals SAP master data management soft spots

  SAP master data management technologies are getting better, but Gartner cautions there are still some things that current and potential users should keep in mind.

• December 30, 2010 30 Dec'10

  Top seven data management stories of 2010

  The top data management stories of 2010 include SaaS-based data integration, data warehouse appliances, the SAP-Sybase acquisition and more.

• December 14, 2010 14 Dec'10

  Buyer’s Guide: Choosing data quality tools and software

  All the reporting tools in the world mean nothing if you’re using dirty data. Learn how to select the right data quality tools and management software for your organization.

• December 14, 2010 14 Dec'10

  Salesforce.com’s cloud-based database enters the proving grounds

  Salesforce.com has a solid reputation when it comes to CRM, but the company will have to prove itself again if it wants its new cloud-based database to be a success, according to experts.

• December 09, 2010 09 Dec'10

  Which emerging database technologies are right for your organization?

  Data management expert David Menninger explains what enterprises need to know about Hadoop, NoSQL and other emerging database technologies.

• December 06, 2010 06 Dec'10

  Database planning tips for a successful data management strategy

  Learn about key issues to consider as part of the database planning process, and get advice from consultant Mark Whitehorn on developing a successful database strategy.

• December 02, 2010 02 Dec'10

  Cbeyond picks Oracle-GoldenGate data replication tools over Attunity

  Find out why Atlanta-based hosted services provider Cbeyond chose Oracle-GoldenGate data replication software over Attunity, IBM and Radiant Logic.

• November 26, 2010 26 Nov'10

  Creating a database strategy that can adapt to changing business needs

  Crafting a successful database strategy requires technology flexibility, the right skill sets and a strong focus on application requirements, according to IT pros and analysts.

• November 22, 2010 22 Nov'10

  Making sense of Database as a Service and cloud database technologies

  Database as a Service (DaaS) technology is becoming a more viable alternative to on-premises databases. Get guidance on the pros and cons of using cloud database software.

• November 10, 2010 10 Nov'10

  Emerging database technologies hit DBMS mainstream, add to choices

  Emerging database technologies such as column-based database software, NoSQL databases and Database as a Service (DaaS) platforms are starting to make a splash in the IT market.

• November 05, 2010 05 Nov'10

  Data governance roles and responsibilities call for diverse skill sets

  Learn about data governance roles and responsibilities, and get advice on the management and technical skills that a successful data governance strategy and program requires.

• November 02, 2010 02 Nov'10

  Common challenges in creating a data governance model and program

  Implementing a data governance model and managing a data governance program are challenging propositions. Learn about common data governance hurdles and how to overcome them.

• November 01, 2010 01 Nov'10

  Data governance best practices: setting up a data governance program

  Get expert advice on data governance best practices, including tips on how to structure a data governance program to best fit your organization’s governance policies and needs.

• October 28, 2010 28 Oct'10

  Building a data governance framework: governance processes and issues

  Learn about the issues that a data governance framework is designed to address, and get a list of questions to consider when designing the framework for a data governance program.

• August 30, 2010 30 Aug'10

  Using data quality metrics to build a data quality business case

  Get expert tips on calculating data quality metrics to document the financial impact of poor data quality and help build a business case for a data quality improvement program.

• August 27, 2010 27 Aug'10

  Increase the success of data governance programs from the bottom up

  Data governance programs are often overlooked, pushed aside and just plain ignored through a lack of executive interest and funding. But some technology professionals are making the most of the situation.

• July 20, 2010 20 Jul'10

  Tips on creating a data governance policy, framework for your company

  Get expert advice on how to set up and manage a data governance policy and framework. Hear an overview of data governance trends and common roadblocks on data governance programs.

• April 22, 2010 22 Apr'10

  Focus on data stewardship, governance for successful ERP MDM projects

  Data stewardship and data governance are key to successful master data management (MDM) projects in operational ERP environments, according to Gartner.

• January 06, 2010 06 Jan'10

  Tips for managing a data management team

  Managing a data management team is just as important as managing the underlying technology. Get tips for managing data management staff from Baseline Consulting's Dave Gilbert.

• December 14, 2009 14 Dec'09

  Tips for a master data management (MDM) requirements gathering process

  Embarking on a master data management (MDM) project? Get an expert's tips for the MDM requirements gathering process and ensure MDM implementation success.

• November 12, 2009 12 Nov'09

  Gartner: Open source data quality software focuses on data profiling

  The open source data quality market is still in its infancy, but a handful of vendors offer adequate data profiling software, according to Gartner.

• July 22, 2009 22 Jul'09

  What does MapReduce and in-database technology mean for data warehouses?

  By placing the analytic logic inside the data warehouse, in-database technology, including open source MapReduce, can quickly process large sets of Web-based data.

• July 02, 2009 02 Jul'09

  Evaluating and selecting a master data management (MDM) vendor

  Learn how to compare and select a master data management (MDM) vendor. Hear about common MDM mistakes, how to write a streamlined vendor request for proposal (RFP) and how to evaluate customer reference letters.

• June 22, 2009 22 Jun'09

  Data models serve as blueprint for business intelligence, master data management projects

  No business intelligence or master data management initiative should start without a well-designed data model to guide the project.

• June 09, 2009 09 Jun'09

  MDM building blocks from Gartner: governance, metrics key to success

  Before embarking on a master data management (MDM) initiative, organizations must lay the foundation for success, including developing data governance rules and business-centric metrics to measure results.

• June 09, 2009 09 Jun'09

  Data warehouse architecture: Beyond hub-and-spoke

  Hear a hub-and-spoke definition and learn about challenges surrounding hub-and-spoke architecture. Know all the issues and details before implementing a hub-and-spoke design and hear how data governance plays a role in the hub-and-spoke model.

• April 13, 2009 13 Apr'09

  Open source data integration tools good choice for 'standard' ETL jobs

  Open source data integration tools and software could be the best choice for companies looking to keep costs low in standard extract, transform and load (ETL) scenarios.

• March 30, 2009 30 Mar'09

  Data federation technology complements fragmented data warehouses

  Data federation software, which integrates data straight from the source, can help fill the gaps left by fragmented departmental data warehouses.

• March 04, 2009 04 Mar'09

  Normalization is Impractical for Master Data

  Master data tables seem to be particularly sensitive to the limits of normalization, and Malcolm Chisholm believes that a reflexive attachment to normalization can be counterproductive.

• February 25, 2009 25 Feb'09

  Data quality management roadmap

  Jeff Pettit explains how to reap the benefits of highly productive data for years to come.

• February 17, 2009 17 Feb'09

  Data Cleansing

  The hard reality is that always problematic and often costly data anomalies do exist. Will Dwinnell explains why it is helpful to have a tool to automatically ferret out a substantial fraction of those anomalies.

• January 26, 2009 26 Jan'09

  How to get started with master data management

  Forrester Research's Rob Karel reveals his tips for starting a master data management (MDM) initiative, including how and when to start evaluating vendors.

• November 06, 2008 06 Nov'08

  Motivations for building the data warehouse

  Bill Inmon provides a review of the factors that motivate organizations to build corporate data warehouses.

• November 05, 2008 05 Nov'08

  Exec explains IBM's Information On Demand (IOD) initiative

  Listen to IBM's Steve Mills discuss Big Blue's Information On Demand initiative and why he thinks it's in a better position to help customers than rival Oracle.

• October 30, 2008 30 Oct'08

  Monitoring the data warehouse

  Bill Inmon looks at dormant data in the data warehouse and provides suggestions for addressing data warehouse performance.

• July 21, 2008 21 Jul'08

  Creating successful data stewardship programs, with Jill Dyché

  Learn how data stewardship fits into data governance and data quality management programs, from Jill Dyché.

• June 05, 2008 05 Jun'08

  Master data management must start with data governance

  An effective master data management project starts with managing people and processes, including data governance. The technology is secondary.

• May 27, 2008 27 May'08

  Data quality assessment helps identify, fix data quality problems

  Data quality problems can't be fixed until they are identified. Learn how a data quality assessment can help pinpoint data quality problems.

• May 08, 2008 08 May'08

  A brief history of ETL

  "Do you remember the spread of data warehousing through the public and then private sectors? The IPO of Prism Solutions? This article takes a look at the history of ETL and provides a glimpse into ETL's future."

• April 30, 2008 30 Apr'08

  Is Data Warehousing Essential to Business Intelligence?

  The role of data warehousing is changing as companies move toward using new business intelligence approaches.

• April 10, 2008 10 Apr'08

  Why Are Data Warehouses Growing So Fast?

  Richard Winter provides observations on the causes and effects of the explosion of digital information.

• March 15, 2008 15 Mar'08

  The simplicity and complexity of person name standardization

  There are many different kinds of standardizations that can be applied to data, especially individual data.

• January 22, 2008 22 Jan'08

  Active data warehousing explained and examined

  Active data warehousing brings business intelligence to more operational decision-making processes. Find out how, and why, active data warehouses enable competitive advantages.

• January 10, 2008 10 Jan'08

  Building a business case for data modeling

  A business case for data modeling requires using the levers of better data quality, improved applications and reduced data management costs.

• December 20, 2007 20 Dec'07

  How long should the data model take?

  There are several approaches for data modeling to ensure that the length of time spent in model development is appropriate for the organization.

• December 11, 2007 11 Dec'07

  Data migration planning: Key things to remember

  Putting together a comprehensive data migration plan now can help firms avoid serious downtime later, according to experts.

• November 28, 2007 28 Nov'07

  Nationwide Insurance implements master data management program

  Nationwide Insurance shares master data management (MDM) best practices in this case study podcast and provides an architectural diagram.

• October 24, 2007 24 Oct'07

  Understanding master data management (MDM) implementation styles

  Rick Sherman explains the three styles of master data management (MDM) -- operational, analytical and enterprise - and how to select a style and get started.

• October 11, 2007 11 Oct'07

  Software Quality Assurance in a Data Warehouse/Business Intelligence Environment

  Quality assurance in a data warehouse/business intelligence environment requires testing of the population process, not the user interface provided by the tool vendor.

• October 11, 2007 11 Oct'07

  Data warehouses and scalability

  Is a data warehouse really necessary? What business requirements indicate the need for a data warehouse?

• September 20, 2007 20 Sep'07

  Quality goals for data warehousing

  Carried to an extreme, quality can be a real enemy to progress.

• September 13, 2007 13 Sep'07

  What is metadata? Solutions for leveraging technical and business metadata

  This article introduces Lowell Fryman's Metadata Expert Channel where he will provide insights and solutions on the capture, governance, management, usage, and dissemination of metadata to enhance your organization's knowledge and effectiveness.

• August 30, 2007 30 Aug'07

  The exploration warehouse

  The exploration warehouse is a physically separate data warehouse designed to provide a place for statisticians to do processing as frequently as desired, without impacting the regular users of the data warehouse.