The metadata repository ensures that results produced by different tools are identical. It also centralizes all the business logic in one manageable location. In addition, the metadata themselves abstract complex data structures and allow all user interaction to be accomplished using business concepts. From the user's perspective, Oracle's relational database and Express multidimensional database are a single, unified data source. The team took a rules-based approach.
All processing takes place in the data warehouse environment, separate from the operational systems.
The data-cleansing process has approximately 40 data quality rules. There are three types of rules. Referential integrity rules address issues in data content such as duplicate records and missing information within records. Financial integrity rules address issues in the financial accuracy of the data. The books balance on the operational systems and they must balance on the decision support systems as well.