DW 2.0 TM - Architecture for the Next Generation of Data Warehousing

Data warehousing has been around for about two decades. In that time data warehousing has gone from a concept to conventional wisdom. Today there are many different vendors and consultants with their own version of what a data warehouse is.

First made available in 2006, now there is a concrete definition of what the next generation of data warehousing is going to look like. On Bill Inmon's website www.inmoncif.com there is the definition and description of DW 2.0^TM. Unlike the term "data warehouse," DW 2.0^TM is trademarked. This means that every vendor and every consultant that wants to reshape the concept of DW 2.0^TM to meet their marketing needs will not be able to do so.

In a word, while there is no integrity to the term "data warehouse," there is integrity - both in terms of definition and in terms of legal protection for DW 2.0^TM.

DW 2.0^TM incorporates some important architectural aspects that were not found in first generation data warehouses:

The recognition of the lifecycle of data within the data warehouse. Data has a life cycle as it is gathered into the corporate walls. DW 2.0^TM recognizes that life cycle as a normal and integral part of the architecture.
The incorporation of unstructured data along with structured data as part of the modern data warehouse. The first generation of data warehouses did not consider unstructured data to be an important part of the information processing environment.
Metadata. Both local and global metadata are an integral part of the modern data warehouse environment. Metadata needs to be captured and stored locally, and needs to be an integral part of the enterprise environment as well. DW 2.0^TM recognizes the importance and positioning of metadata. Master data management (MDM) is also an integral part of the data warehouse environment.
The need for integrity of integrated data and the need for online transaction processing data. Both kinds of data are needed in the next generation of data warehouse processing.

Note - the term DW 2.0^TM is a trademark of Bill Inmon and the text "architecture for the next generation of data warehousing" is copyrighted by Bill Inmon. All material found on www.inmoncif.com is free and is available for the noncommercial use of the readership.

This piece is brought to you by the Information Management editorial staff.

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Data Warehousing