A data warehouse project is like few others. It is therefore critical that proper planning and project management techniques be employed when a data warehouse project is launched. It is also important to continue to implement project management principles throughout the lifecycle of the project. VIP has a proven methodology, The Matrix Methodology™ (TMM ). It is designed to effectively and efficiently guide you through the planning and execution of a data warehouse project. In addition, Synchronicity, our solution delivery system for project implementation and program management, may be used in conjunction with TMM to help companies reach business performance strategic goals, consolidate IT architecture vision, assist with Systems Development Life-Cycle (SDLC) and take into consideration financial and temporal (timing) constraints.

TMM is a synthesis of “best of breed” management and technology processes and templates. The theory behind it took over twelve years to develop and refine. It is based on the best practices of repeatability, reliability and consistency in solving data integration and business intelligence implementation challenges. It contains the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) components including Key Process Indicator (KPI), Key Process Area (KPA), and the Capability Maturity Model (CMM) areas from Carnegie Mellon University , and the OMG universal meta-data standards. These standards provide for quick, efficient and consistent implementations "out of the box." TMM provides a repeatable, consistent framework within which our project plans and milestones are organized using a Project Management Institute (PMI) approved template approach.

TMM supports all aspects of the implementation of a warehouse – from project charter through deployment through post-project review. It does this through a series of templates that prompt users through each step and are self documenting.

The Matrix Methodology Project Implementation Plan

Unlike many modern methodologies, VIP has taken the extra, and unique, step of turning the "theory" into actual deliverables. The Matrix Methodology project implementation and process plan took approximately two person years to develop and includes over 400 pages of detailed process descriptions and robust templates that can be used immediately.  This toolkit provides you with a complete outline and fill-in-the-blank templates to guide through the entire project lifecycle.

Components

The Matrix Methodology is organized around 30 software development processes within the six major project phases.

• Discover – Exploring the project vision, scope, business justification, funding, timeframe, organization, roles and responsibilities, and developing the project charter
• Direct – Overall project initiation, planning, execution, control and closure (i.e. Project Management)
• Define – Gathering detailed requirements and drafting the initial architecture
• Design – Creating data models, mapping specifications, report layouts, meta data specification and other components that fulfill the detailed requirements
• Develop – Development, testing, and architecture implementation
• Deploy – Promotion to production, user acceptance, training, application roll-out

Synchronicity

Synchronicity is VIP's solution delivery system for project implementation and program management. We named it Synchronicity because our approach ensures the end-result is “in-sync” with an organization's:

• Business performance strategic goals
• IT architecture vision
• Systems Development Life-Cycle (SDLC) project methodology
• Financial and temporal (timing) constraints

Synchronicity is accomplished by following a three-pronged project execution approach:

• First, we adhere to an engineering, model-based approach that links corporate goals to functional objectives and maps those objectives directly to tactical deliverables.
• Second, we implement an integrated architecture approach to ensure the deliverables are built upon a sound architectural foundation.
• Third, we follow strict program management disciplines to execute projects and to support your Program Management Office (PMO). By establishing a solid PMO foundation, it ensures that all the work we do will integrate well across the entire corporate structure.
• Specific processes for data warehouse tasks – such as ETL, BI, Data Quality and more
• Detailed work breakdown structure specifically for data warehousing
• Process-based approach that aligns all technical activity with a business case
• Compliant with SEI 's (Software Engineering Institute) Key Process Indicator (KPI), Key Process Area ( KPA ) and the Capability Maturity Model ( CMM ) areas from Carnegie Mellon University
• Uses the project management practices espoused by PMI (Project Management Institute) – which are ISO 9001 compliant and consistent with SEI 's principals