Write a 2 to 3 page essay describing the use of an OLAP Dat…
Write a 2 to 3 page essay describing the use of an OLAP Data Cube. Your essay should also describe the operations of Drill Down, Roll Up, Slice, and Dice. The rubric for this assignment can be viewed when clicking on the assignment link. ExcelCentral.com – 3/24/15
Answer
The use of an OLAP Data Cube is essential for multidimensional analysis in decision support systems. OLAP, or Online Analytical Processing, allows users to analyze large volumes of data from multiple perspectives, enabling them to gain valuable insights and make informed decisions.
An OLAP Data Cube is a multidimensional representation of data. It stores data in three or more dimensions, typically including dimensions such as time, location, and product. The cube can be visualized as a three-dimensional grid, with each cell containing a data value. The dimensions of the cube allow users to analyze data from different angles, providing a more comprehensive view of the data.
One of the key operations of an OLAP Data Cube is drill down. Drill down allows users to explore data at a lower level of detail. For example, if the data cube contains sales data categorized by year, quarter, and month, users can drill down from the year level to the quarter level, and then further to the month level. This operation provides users with a more granular view of the data, allowing them to identify trends and patterns at different levels of detail.
Roll up is the opposite of drill down and allows users to aggregate data from a lower level of detail to a higher level. Using the same example, if users have drilled down to the month level, they can roll up to the quarter level, and then further to the year level. This operation is useful for summarizing data and obtaining a higher-level perspective.
Slice is another important operation of an OLAP Data Cube. Slicing involves selecting a specific subset of the data cube based on one or more dimensions. For example, users can slice the data cube to only include data for a specific region, such as North America. This operation allows users to focus on a particular subset of the data and analyze it in isolation.
Dice is similar to slice but involves selecting a subset of the data based on multiple dimensions. Users can dice the data cube to include data for a specific region and time period, such as North America and the first quarter of the year. This operation enables users to analyze data that meets specific criteria, providing them with even more targeted insights.
In conclusion, an OLAP Data Cube is a powerful tool for multidimensional analysis in decision support systems. It allows users to analyze data from different perspectives and gain valuable insights. Operations such as drill down, roll up, slice, and dice further enhance the capabilities of the data cube, enabling users to explore data at different levels of detail and focus on specific subsets of the data.