WK 4 – DATA 620 Discussion 4.1C
WK 4 – DATA 620 Discussion 4.1C - Star Schema vs. Relational Databases
Do this as a GROUP ASSIGNMENT.
(Once your group has submitted, you should have access to this thread. If you don't, go ahead and submit a little something like 'Please disregard - Bobby from Group 9 posting so I can see responses.')
This assignment covers the star schema vs. relational database schema.
Have your primary posting (the response to the boss) completed by Monday midnight, and have all your responses to classmates completed by Tuesday evening.
Reading: Database schematics
- Anupindi, N. V. 2005. Inmon vs. Kimball. Retrieved from Inmon vs. Kimball - An Analysis (Brief overview of relational databases vs. star schema)
- Week 4 Star Schema from Professor Majed Al-Ghandour.pdf
This is not required reading, but it may be helpful: past students have also found useful information on the James Serra blog posting about data warehouse architecture.
Your boss is at it again. You are still working at XYZ Automotive, which is still a competitor of Chrysler, and your boss has written you the following email:
“Hi,
So I’ve done a little research on star schema vs. relational databases, and I’m just plain old confused. I’ve read the materials above, and Section 3.4 in the Inmon/Linstedt book, and I’m wondering if you could define the relational database model, define the star schema model, and tell me which one we need to use. In plain old English.”
Compose an email to answer your boss. Please paste the text of the email within the discussion forum; do *not* put your email as an attachment. Make it easy for us to respond! Include in your submission your group name; for example, if my Group is X, I might title mine, "Group X recommends the star schema"
Choose two other submissions to respond to. In your response, include three stars (three things they did well), plus one wish (constructive criticism.) The responses to others may or may not be from the same person who posted the initial submission.
A successful submission will
- Contain approximately 300-500 words, plus a bibliography
- Be as formal (or informal) as you would take in a tone with an email to your boss – the only difference here would be that you do need APA citations and a bibliography.
- Pass a reference citation check for plagiarism – cite all your sources
- Define the star schema database and cite your sources. (Inmon and Linstedt in Chapter 3.4 refer to the star schema as a ‘snowflake’ schema. Same thing.) You may use sources outside of the Nagesh and Inmon/Linstedt assigned sources, but you must convince me you have understood those two sources as well.
- Define the relational database model. Again, you may do outside research, but you must convince me you have understood these materials.
- Make a recommendation for which one the boss should get implemented at XYZ Automotive. You are encouraged to clarify your recommendations – i.e. which conditions or in which situation would a star make more sense?
- Give helpful feedback to your classmates.
