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A Real World Data Warehouse Project: MERLIN

Learn about Project MERLIN, a statewide data warehouse in Mississippi designed to provide executives with timely and relevant information for decision making. Explore the business problem, operations, resources, implementation, success assessment, and lessons learned from the project.

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A Real World Data Warehouse Project: MERLIN

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  1. A Real World Data Warehouse Project: MERLIN Joe DeCicco Thanh Lam Stephen Parshley

  2. Introduction • Project MERLIN is a statewide data warehouse at Mississippi State • MERLIN stands for Mississippi Executive Resource Library and Information Network • Collaborations of • Governor of Mississippi • Department of Finance and Administration executive director • Partnership with IBM

  3. Objective • From the Mississippi Management and Reporting System (MMRS) • “Our purpose is to create and maintain a central repository of current, accurate, and relevant management information”

  4. Mission • MMRS provides timely, accurate financial management and human resource information to state agencies, elected officials, band the public at large. • We prepare for the expanding information needs of the State of Mississippi by using the latest in technological advancements. • We commit to professionally serve the Citizens of Mississippi.

  5. Topics of Discussion • The business problem • Stated operations of the data warehouse • Resources and timeline estimates • Actual implementation • Assessment of success • Lessons learned

  6. The Business Problem • Unable to provide executives information necessary for decision making • Information is not easy to retrieve in a timely or useful manner • Information retrieval from multiple data sources and much time was spent in reorganization into a single, comprehensive, and understandable format

  7. Stated Operations • MERLIN is a state-wide executive information and decision support system • MERLIN data warehouse is implemented using client/server technology • From a single mouse click, information is available for Appropriations, Cash, Capital Assets, Debt, Diversion, Economic/Statistical, Expenditures, Federal Funding, or Revenue • It also allows executives to examine graphically represented trends for their chosen subject

  8. Resources and Timeline Estimates • Mid 1995, forming of task force to define common information and subject requirements • Data is extracted from 30 databases • Four Phases in building data warehouse: • Phase 1: workforce application • Phase 2: finance application • Phase 3: debt, capital projects & economics/statistics • Phase 4: intranet access

  9. Phase 1: July 1996 • Workforce application up & running in four months • Data required only minor conditioning • Demanding task: data location and extraction

  10. Phase 2 • Data cleanup for finance application was more difficult (seven months) • Still delivered on time and on budget • Core users can access detailed, transaction-level data

  11. Phase 3 • Data on debt, capital projects and economics/statistics • Initial development of Internet access • Staff training: • 20 MMRS staffs • 40 users in 14 State agencies

  12. Phase 4: Jan. 1998 • Completing Intranet access • Expanding user training to the public • Will offer less breadth of information and in less detail • Service offer for a subscription fee • Completion slated for mid-1998

  13. Actual Implementation • Hardware: • IBM SP2 • IBM MVS • IBM AS/400 • Software: • Lotus Notes and Domino • Track Business Solutions • Cognos Impromptu

  14. Assessment of success • “I’ve heard a lot of people say it’s the best project the State has ever done.”, MERLIN project manager Julie Allen. • The timeliness factor: complex query gets immediate response • The growing factor: increases in both data amount and number of users • Less tangible benefits: better public policy. • Nominee for NASIRE Administrative Applications Award

  15. Lessons Learned • MERLIN never was cost-justified per se • “Our benefits are in places other than cost.” • Data cleanup was considerably more difficult due to the complexity of source systems • Mutual relations with IT company

  16. Future Expectations • MERLIN’s net benefit to the State by 2002 is estimated to be $2,923,359.00 • Data integrity is ensured • Improved planning and decision making by the State’s executives and managers

  17. References • MERLIN documentation • IT on Human Resource Management • NASIRE recognition awards • IBM hardware, software, project information

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