DATA WAREHOUSING FUNDAMENTALS: A Comprehensive Guide for IT Professionals

19.2. MAJOR DEPLOYMENT ACTIVITIES

Let us continue from the end of the construction phase. As you observe, a large number of critical activities have been completed. All the components have been tested. The pieces are in place. Now please look at Figure 19-1 showing the activities in the deployment phase. Observe the primary tasks in each box representing the activities in this phase. In the deployment phase, establish a feedback mechanism for the users to let the project team know how the deployment is going. If this is the initial rollout, most of your users will be new to the processes. Although the users must have received training, substantial handholding is essential in this phase. Be prepared to provide the support. Let us inspect each major activity in the deployment phase. As we move along, please pick up tips and adapt them to your environment.

19.2.1. Complete User Acceptance

Proper acceptance of the system by the users is not just a formality in the deployment phase, it is an absolute necessity. Do not proceed to force the deployment before the key user representatives express their satisfaction about the data warehouse. Some organizations have procedures for a formal sign-off. Others conduct a series of user acceptance tests in which each function is accepted. It does not matter how the user acceptance activity is completed but do complete it in the manner in which such acceptances are usually done in your environment.

Who should do the acceptance testing from the ...