Databases store and organize data to provide valuable decision making and analysis tools for business.  There are multiple layers of employees using the database for a variety of reasons.  Accurate, complete collection of needs from the working groups is essential to making the database successful.  An understanding of database structure and function can help facilitate conversations to plan and provide a product that is fully functional for all levels of a business team.

Finding agile solutions in a technical world and delivering technology projects can be difficult, particularly understanding how different technological elements work together towards a solution. This is the recommended eighth class of the Technical Solutions Delivery Certificate that provides an overview of technological understanding to help in the communication of projects and working relationships.

Class format includes lecture, hands-on exercises, and real-world examples.

Performance Objectives: Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

• Compare and contrast Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) databases and data warehouses.
• Define the four-step design process for data warehouses.
• Outline common data warehouse structures: Star, Snowflake and OLAP.
• Determine what fact tables are and how they measure business performance.
• Understand dimension tables and tracking the details of measurements.

Recommended Prerequisite: To be successful in this course, you should be familiar with using personal computers, the mouse, and keyboard. You should be able to use Windows to launch and close programs, navigate to information stored on the computer, and manage files and folders.

Competencies Covered: Overall review of technical structure

Intended Audience: This course is ideal for anyone, but especially communications professionals who are involved in the conception of projects. This class is aimed at non-IT professionals to gain an understanding of the IT world.