The Data Warrior

Changing the world, one data model at a time. How can I help you?

Archive for the tag “#KScope12”

24 May 2012

Is Data Vault Agile?

You bet it is!

Years ago I wrote an article about Agile Data Warehousing and proposed using Data Vault Data Modeling as a way to get there. Dan Linstedt recently published an article with more details on how it fits. Here are the good parts:

1. Individuals and Interactions over processes and tools

The Data Vault is technology agnostic AND focuses VERY heavily on customer interaction. In fact it’s really the only methodology where I’ve seen a very heavy emphasis on the fact – The business owns the data.

Also, you have to start with the Hub entities and they require identification of the business keys as specified step-by-step on page 54 of Super Charge Your Data Warehouse

2. Working Software over Comprehensive Documentation

With the pattern based architecture in a Data Vault model and with the business rules downstream of the Data Warehouse, you can start building extremely fast and even use code-generation tools or scripts to get the first cut of your model.

I’ve in fact used code-generation for Data Warehouses that have been in production for quite a few years They’re even running today.

The Data Vault Model & Methodology in my opinion is the fastest way to get something delivered to a Data Warehouse and it dramatically reduces project timelines and risk.

3. Customer Collaboration over Contract Negotiation

The Data Vault Methodology emphasizes the ownership of the project and data by the business and makes them a partner on any Business Intelligence project.

And, the fact that it’s easy to address change makes them happy which interestingly enough, is the next one:

4. Responding to Change over Following a Plan

This makes some people cringe. But it’s a reality of most projects. The first time out neither you nor the business REALLY know what they want. It’s only after they see something, they realize the value of the information and their brains start churning.

In the traditional forms of Data Warehousing, it takes scoping, project budgeting, planning, resource allocation and other fun stuff before you can even get creative and give them what they think they want. The problem is, most business users don’t REALLY know. The DW team ends up thinking and even assuming for them often incorrectly. You can end up with something that is really fancy and beautiful and still … useless!

To add to the complication, If it’s in fact a bad idea, it will be money ill spent which can be as much of a big deal if it’s a great idea where the time to build will make them lose out on the competitive edge they’re looking for.

With the Data Vault, the model is built for change from the ground up. Since the core data NEVER ever changes, creating business level user-interface layers on top is just so easy – and many architects and modelers think it’s ideal.

Check out the full post – Agile Data Warehousing

(and don’t forget to buy the book).

BTW – if you are going to ODTUG KScope12 this June in San Antonio, be sure to stop by for a chat. I will be giving two talks, one on Data Vault and one on using SQL Developer Data Modeler.

See ya.

Kent

P.S. I am now on twitter! You can follow me there @KentGraziano.

Posted in Data Modeling, Data Vault, Data Warehouse, ODTUG, Oracle, SQL Developer Data Modeler and tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment
17 May 2012
3 Comments

Work is Killing You and 10 Ways to Stop It From Happening!

This has been a hot button for me for some time – if we don’t find a way to fit exercise, fitness, and some healthy eating into our sedentary lives (like we in IT tend have), we will not live as long as we hope. And life will not be as enjoyable as it could be.

This article really speaks to this all-to-common issue:

Every morning, you awaken to a new day and you launch into your familiar routines as you hustle to meet your daily obligations.

Ideally, your work excites you, energizes you, and brings joy to your life. If your work brings you more stress and fatigue than joy then now is the time to make some changes. You can introduce a renewed vigor into your work and upgrade your attitude.

You know that taking care of yourself should be your number one priority. Yet you often let your health and fitness levels fall by the wayside if you are consistently working 50 or more hours a week.

As a society, at what point did we take the wrong turn by focusing on work place productivity and relentless goal setting at the expense of our happiness and well-being?

Productivity does not have to be measured solely by the number of hours logged at work. Happiness will not be attainable when consistently working 50 hours a week. Furthermore, our choice, as a culture, to sacrifice fitness or physical play for other goals has had an impact on every part of our lives, including our fitness level and our overall happiness at work and outside of work.

The article goes on to detail 10 things you can do – today – to become more fit and healthy (and it is not just joining a health club). Check it out at  Work is Killing You and 10 Ways to Stop It From Happening! | Work Happy Now.

Get up and get moving! (after you read the article that is…)

If you want to get notified when I post articles like this, don’t forget to hit the Follow button at the top of the column to the right.

– Kent

P.S. If you are attending this years KScope conference next month in San Antonio, you can work on your fitness level by joining me each morning for some calming and energizing Chi Gung. We will meet on the lawn each morning at 7 AM.

Posted in Chi Gung, Fitness, ODTUG, Work-Life Balance and tagged , , , , ,
23 Apr 2012
2 Comments

Alert would-be Oracle Warriors: Chi Gung in San Antonio

As many of you now by now I will be presenting several sessions at the ODTUG annual conference, KScope, this coming June in San Antonio, Texas.

What you may not know is that I will also be conducting 30-minute Chi Gung sessions in the morning before the events of the day start as part of the KScope12 Fun Factor activities.

Why you may ask?

In short, because even geeks need to exercise to live long (and prosper).

Plus this type of moving meditation is just what the doctor ordered to help you de-stress and (mentally) get away from your daily IT routine. (I have written a bit more on this here and here)

So as some motivation for you to join me doing Chi Gung (in the cool part of the day!) check out this video of a guy Exercising Around the World.

If you like that video and a really motivated, check out his web site at NerdFitness.

At KScope11 in Long Beach, we did it everyday and had at least 20 people each morning. It was a lot of fun.

Here are a few of the comments I received about the sessions:

“Kent organized the Chi Gung class at this years ODTUG KScope 2011 event, which was very enjoyable. A very relaxing way to start the day. Kent explained the exercises very clear, which made it easier to follow for first time practitioners.” 

“Kent proivided Chi Gung sessions to supplement an IT conference. It was a great way to set us up for the day and it was great fun. Ken was patient and yet educational, repeating the main concepts each day for new people. I attended for 5 consecutive days and would have loved to have done more” 

No previous martial arts or meditation experience required!

Let’s join the revolution and become fit and healthy Oracle Nerds and Geeks!

Tell me in the comments how you are becoming a fitter, healthier Oracle geek.

Then meet me in San Antonio for some moving meditation, relaxation, and fun.

Kent

Posted in Chi Gung, Fitness, Martial Arts, ODTUG, Oracle, User Groups and tagged , , , ,
29 Mar 2012
1 Comment

Oracle User Groups: Are you a member?

I love user groups.

Getting introduced and involved in them has made a huge difference in my career. If it was not for all the people I have met in the last 22+ years, my career, and life, would have been very different.

I have met hundreds (maybe thousands) of amazing people both from within Oracle Corp and outside. Many of them became, and remain, my friends. Which is why we all love to get together several times a year at various user group and industry events to catch up, exchange wars stories, and learn new things.

Right now, I am starting to prepare for one of my favorites – ODTUG KScope. I will be there presenting in June and  running my popular Morning Chi Gung class for the 2nd year in a row.

If you have not registered, get to it! Rooms are going fast and you want to be sure to stay at the conference resort (yes – resort, not hotel!).

And on the ODTUG front, they have just announced you can now join for just $99 a year. That is the best value you can find for the world’s best Oracle user group for Developers.

So are you in? Are you at member of at least one user group?

What? You don’t know which one to join?

Then check out this new cool site Oracle just put up with videos from some of the user group leaders. After that, check out their new User Group Central with information about Oracle user groups around the globe.

So get out there and meet some new people and learn some new things.

Come to KScope12.

Join a user group.

See you in San Antonio.

Kent

P.S. Don’t forget to submit an abstract for Oracle OpenWorld before the deadline passes. It will get you a free pass to the show (worth over $2000). Tell’em ODTUG and the Oracle Data Warrior sent you.

Posted in Chi Gung, ODTUG, Oracle, User Groups and tagged , , , , , ,

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