Build Workstream

Build Manager

The build manager is responsible for the management and running of the software development teams including the data integration development team, data modellers and the analytics development team. The key responsibility is in the organisation and coordination of the development process and as such works closely with the project manager. The build manager defines the build process and tooling, manages issue logs and defect trackers, defines the version control process and manages the version control software.

Once the first phase of build is complete the build manager works with the configuration manager to coordinate the release of software to the test, pre-production and eventually production environments. Part of this would be to produce the Software Deployment Guide, which details how to release the code into an environment.

Deliverables,

• Defect Tracker
• Issue Log
• Software Deployment Guide

Build Teams

The build teams code and unit test the software and typically there are three separate teams: data integration, data modelling and BI Application development.

The data integration team is responsible for developing the data integration software typically using a data integration tool such as SAP Data Services, IBM DataStage or Informatica. The team may also be required to write operating system scripts for processing source files or database code for more complex data integration components.

The data modelling team implement and maintain the physical data model. The data modelling team are also involved in Data Profiling which is an essential exercise on a BI project in order to have a comprehensive understanding of the source data. In particular, when the source data does not conform to expectation – unexpected data can fail the data integration processes or corrupt the relation integrity in the target warehouse.

The BI development team is responsible for creating reports, dashboards, semantic layers for ad hoc (universes in SAP BusinessObjects) and build and unit test of security models. Often the security model is not considered as something that is developed but rather implemented directly in production. However, BI security models can be very complex and as such, it should be built and tested along with any other component.

All three teams are required to unit test all deliverable code, documenting the results.

Deliverables,

• Physical Data Model
• Data Integration Technical Specifications
• Report, Semantic Layer and Dashboard Technical Specifications
• Data Integration Software
• Semantic Layer
• Reports, Dashboard and other Analytical Components
• Security Model
• Unit Testing

Configuration Manager

The configuration manager is responsible for pulling together all the configuration items (components) that go into a build. For example, ensuring that the right version of the data integration code is released with the right version of data model and BI components. The configuration manager defines the release cycles, version control method and the version dependencies between the components. The configuration manager informs the Test Manager and, during UAT, the Business Analyst of features delivered, dropped from scope, defects fixed and known issues. This is captured in the Release Note.

Deliverables

• Version Control Strategy
• Configuration Item Catalogue
• Release Notes