The Data Warehouse (DW) is a data store that enables wide-ranging and in-depth analysis of all organizational business activity, as well as enabling the selective and incidental data searching known as Data Mining. The DW is comprehensive with respect to the quantity, type, and historical depth of its data. The term DW not only implies a data store as such but also refers to special tools for data organization, management and analysis. These tools are called OLAP (On-Line Analytical Processing) and belong to a wider category of Decision Support Systems (DSS). DW is based on the organization's operational data repositories, such as finance, marketing, production management, human resources etc., as well as on external data. The most commonly used method of creating a data warehouse is by constructing an independent database, converting and tailoring data from operational data repositories into the type of queries and data retrieval associated with Data Warehouses. A less popular method involves imposing the DW tools on existing databases, in a read-only fashion, without creating a new database. DW is a modern version of what was once known as an Information Center and is based on newer technologies such as: PCs, GUI interfaces, client/server architecture, intranet, and integration with the Internet. In addition to alphanumeric data, the DW also contains data in other forms, such as visuals, graphics, and sounds. Ultimately, the DW is an IS and should be employed in accordance with the usual MethodA guidelines.

• See the DW (BI) Kit