Multidimensional Design Paradigms for Data Warehouses: A Systematic Mapping Study

Data warehouses (DW) must integrate information from the different areas and sources of an organization in order to extract knowledge relevant to decision-making. The DW development is not an easy task, which is why various design approaches have been put forward. These approaches can be classified in three different paradigms according to the origin of the information requirements: supply-driven, demand-driven, and hybrids of these. This article compares the methodologies for the multidimensional design of DW through a systematic mapping as research methodology. The study is presented for each paradigm, the main characteristics of the methodologies, their notations and problem areas exhibited in each one of them. The results indicate that there is no follow-up to the complete process of implementing a DW in either an academic or industrial environment; however, there is also no evidence that the attempt is made to address the design and development of a DW by applying and comparing different methodologies existing in the field.