Design and Build a Data Warehouse for Business Intelligence Implementation

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/data-warehouse-bi-building

Introduction

### Course Review: Design and Build a Data Warehouse for Business Intelligence Implementation In the ever-evolving landscape of data management and analytics, designing and building effective data warehouses is crucial for organizations looking to leverage their data for business intelligence (BI). Coursera’s course titled **Design and Build a Data Warehouse for Business Intelligence Implementation** is a comprehensive, capstone experience that harnesses real-world scenarios to illuminate the key principles of data warehousing. #### Overview This capstone course serves as the culmination of a specialization, drawing learners into a fictional business scenario based on the real-life challenges faced by CPI Card Group in 2015. Through structured modules, participants are tasked with designing and building a small data warehouse, crafting data integration workflows, and executing SQL queries to meet analytical goals. Moreover, learners gain hands-on experience with the MicroStrategy business intelligence platform, which is widely used in the industry. #### Course Structure and Syllabus Breakdown The course is divided into six modules, each targeting essential components of data warehousing: 1. **Course Overview**: The first module lays the groundwork, outlining course objectives and providing essential background on the case study. It sets clear expectations for what learners will achieve throughout the course. 2. **Data Warehouse Design**: Here, learners dive into the specifics of data warehouse design based on the requirements established in the case study. This module includes valuable insights from executive interviews, providing context and real-world perspectives. 3. **Data Integration**: Continuing with the case study, this module assesses data integration strategies. Through interviews with executives from various organizations, learners gain a multifaceted understanding of how data integration plays a pivotal role in successful data warehousing. 4. **Analytical Queries and Summary Data Management**: In this module, learners tackle analytical queries and manage summary data, key skills for any BI professional. 5. **Data Visualization and Dashboard Design Requirements**: This practical module emphasizes the importance of data visualization. Learners will explore different chart types, best practices in visual representation, and the development of effective dashboards using MicroStrategy. A peer-evaluated exercise helps reinforce the concepts learned. 6. **Wrap Up and Project Submission**: This final module allows learners to showcase their understanding through project submissions, including peer assessments that help foster a collaborative learning environment. #### Highlights and Benefits 1. **Real-World Application**: The course’s emphasis on a practical case study provides a unique learning experience that simulates real-world challenges. 2. **Diverse Learning Modalities**: From executive interviews to hands-on assignments in data integration and visualization, the course caters to various learning styles, ensuring a more effective learning experience. 3. **Industry-Relevant Tools**: Exposure to MicroStrategy and engagement with SQL queries equips learners with the skills needed to thrive in a competitive job market. 4. **Peer Interaction**: The course fosters a community of learners through peer assessments, encouraging collaboration and constructive feedback. #### Recommendation I highly recommend **Design and Build a Data Warehouse for Business Intelligence Implementation** for anyone pursuing a career in data management and analytics. Whether you are an aspiring BI analyst, data engineer, or a business professional seeking to enhance your data literacy, this course provides a robust foundation in data warehousing principles and practices. The course’s blend of theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and real-world relevance positions it as a key asset in your professional development toolkit. Completing this capstone will not only bolster your resume but also equip you with functional expertise that can immediately be applied in the workplace. Dive in and unlock the potential of data-driven decision-making!

Syllabus

Course Overview

Module 1 introduces the objectives and topics in the course and provides background on the case and software requirements. The capstone course is organized around a realistic case study based on the business situation faced by CPI Card Group in 2015.

Module 2 presents the requirements of the first part of the case study involving data warehouse design. To provide a context for the case study, you can listen to an executive interview with a CPI Card Group executive.

Module 3 presents requirements for the second part of the case study involving data integration. To provide a context for the case study, you can listen to executive interviews with executives from CPI Card Group, First Bank, and Pinnacol Assurance.

Module 4 presents requirements for the third part of the case study involving analytical queries and summary data management.

This module continues on the top job responsibilities of BI analysts by focusing on creating data visualizations and dashboards. You will first learn the importance of data visualization and different types of data that can be visually represented. You will then learn about the types of basic and composite charts. This will help you to determine which visualization is most effective to display data for a given data set and to identify best practices for designing data visualizations. In lesson 3, you will learn the common characteristics of a dashboard, the types of dashboards, and the list of attributes of metrics usually included in dashboards. Finally, in lesson 3, you will learn the guidelines for designing a dashboard and the common pitfalls of dashboard design. You will need to use MicroStrategy Desktop Visual Insight to design a dashboard for a Financial Services company in a peer-evaluated exercise.

This is an extension of Module 5. The peer assessment from module 5 is moved to module 6 to give you more time completing the assignments in prior modules as well as for you to do your peer assessment in this module.