Design, Build, and Manage High-Value BI Solutions with SQL Server 2005

In this book, two of Microsoft’s leading consultants illustrate how to use SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence (BI) technologies to solve real-world problems in markets ranging from retail and finance to healthcare. Drawing on extensive personal experience with Microsoft’s strategic customers, John C. Hancock and Roger Toren offer unprecedented insight into BI systems design and step-by-step best practices for implementation, deployment, and management.

Hancock and Toren introduce practical BI concepts and terminology and provide a concise primer on the Microsoft BI platform. Next, they turn to the heart of the book—constructing solutions. Each chapter-length case study begins with the customer’s business goals, and then guides you through detailed data modeling. The case studies show how to avoid the pitfalls that derail many BI projects. You’ll translate each model into a working system and learn how to deploy it into production, maintenance, and efficient operation.

Whether you’re a decision-maker, architect, developer, or DBA, this book brings together all the knowledge you’ll need to derive maximum business value from any BI project. 

     •  Leverage SQL Server 2005 databases, Integration Services, Analysis Services, and Reporting Services

     •  Build data warehouses and extend them to support very large databases

     •  Design effective Analysis Services databases

     •  Ensure the superior data quality your BI system needs

     •  Construct advanced enterprise scorecard applications

     •  Use data mining to segment customers, cross-sell, and increase the value of each transaction

     •  Design real-time BI applications

     •  Get hands-on practice with SQL Server 2005’s BI toolset

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 6 Ratings

Extremely Practical and Hands-On BI Book - 2008-01-30
Reviewer Rating:
I cannot recommend this book highly enough! On a topic that regrettably, is otherwise extremely short on practical and accessible information - Practical BI achieves that in a very effective and concise manner, introducing practical BI concepts and terminology then applying them.

John and Roger cover off the Microsoft BI platform quite admirably. The heart of Practical BI is constructing real-world solutions. Each chapter consists of a case study that begins with the customer's business goals, and then guides you through to the solution in a detailed and thorough manner - complete with source code that actually works - fully and completely.

That's the kicker for me - the source code provided along with the book covers the cost of the book - many times over. It is very reassuring to fall back on the solid working source examples, and to pick up from where you have the time and desire to apprentice. It is a pleasure to work through this book - the lessons take, even novices, a long way down the road to mastering Microsoft's BI world.

For my BI Intro Presentation to our Toronto SQL User Group - TSQL.ca, I will be presenting exclusively large sections of this book. The book gets you anxious to roll up your sleeves and get working in BI. The case study examples are very pertinent to the real world. Well done John and Roger!

First job on a data warehouse - 2007-10-20
Reviewer Rating:
I recently started my first job as a full time dba using sql server 2005 and am working on a data warehouse for the first time. This book helped me immensely in understanding what I am doing and how to do it. It's a steep learning curve in a tough environment but immensely rewarding.

Great first book on SQL 2005 BI - 2008-07-18
Reviewer Rating:
BI is about turning data into useful knowledge.

This book is geared towards the beginners of SQL 2005 BI. It differs from many other books in the market in that it defines the general architecture of a SQL 2005 BI. They involve OLTP, ETL, DW, OLAP, and query and reporting (Reporting Services).

The author describes each step in a case method so the reader can understand when and how SQL 2005 BI can be utilized to meet a business requirement.

I have found author's suggestions on buildling an effective DW and how it relates to building an effective OLAP Cube to be particularly useful.

The downside is that this is not particularly detailed and it is missing many pieces such as MDX. But it is not meant to be a comprehensive reference but a mere introduction to the possibilities of SQL 2005 BI. To that end, the book does its job well.

The definitive guide to SQL Server Business Intelligence - 2008-01-28
Reviewer Rating:
This book delivers exactly what the title promises -- A practical guide to learning and understanding Microsoft SQL Server 2005 BI. I've purchased more than a dozen books on the subject. This is the one that offers the most understandable and concise explanation of the capabilities of the product without a lot of fluff. It is my "go to" guide whenever I need a refresher.

Introduction to BI - 2008-12-10
Reviewer Rating:
I bought this book because I was looking for an introduction into business intelligence. I have a lot of experience with relational database, but none with BI.

The first chapter gives an introduction when and whz BI can be usefull for a company. It explains why so many BI-projects fail and how to make
such project sucessfull.

Chapter 2 gives an overview of the components of SQL Server, especially those which are important for BI.

Each of the remaining chapter presents a BI-projects, which the authors have successully finished. For me the most interesting one was the "balanced scorecard project" of NY-Police. They have now a dashboard showing the current status of the police service, which allows them to continuously improve their service.

This book is more a business than a technical book. If you are looking
for detailed technical information about analysis service look somewhere else. However, if you need guidance on whether you should BI use in your
company, then this book is the right choice.

Following terms are explained in this book:
business intelligence
OLTP
OLAP
Data Mart
Data Warehouse
Cubes
Data Mining
OLTP Reporting and Analysis
MOLAP
ROLAP
MDX (Multi Dimensional Expression Standard)
KPI (Key Performance Indicators)
Star Design
Snowflake Design
Dimensional Model
Measures
Fact Tables
Attributes
Dimensions

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