The Microsoft® Data Warehouse Toolkit: With SQL Server™ 2005 and the Microsoft® Business Intelligence Toolset

1.3. Business Requirements Example: Adventure Works Cycles

The sample business intelligence databases in SQL Server 2005 are based on a fictitious company called Adventure Works Cycles (AWC), a multinational manufacturer and seller of bicycles and accessories. According to the descriptions in Books Online, the company is based in Bothell, Washington, USA and has regional sales offices in several countries. In this section we provide an example of the business requirements gathering process based on the Adventure Works Cycles business. Assuming the DW/BI system already has good business sponsorship, the first major step in the Lifecycle is requirements definition, and the first task in requirements definition is preparation.

1.3.1. Interview Preparation at Adventure Works Cycles

Typically, you'd carefully review all the information about Adventure Works Cycles that you could find, reading through strategy documents, annual reports, marketing plans, competitive analyses, and presentations from senior management's annual offsite planning meeting. Because Adventure Works Cycles is a fictitious company, you can't really do the kind of research you should. SQL Server Books Online (BOL) provides some background information about Adventure Works Cycles in the section "Sample Databases and Business Scenarios." You may want to review the materials in BOL to get a general sense for Adventure Works Cycles and the AdventureWorks transaction system database. In this section, we have enhanced ...