Question

Compare a data warehouse used for decision support to an operational database. How do the data warehouse and the operational database differ in their purpose, their structure, the technology they use, and the way they are managed? Why would a company need both?

Answer 1

Operational Database and Data warehouse both are generally maintained by an organization in which the role of both the database differ. The operational database is a very much dynamic database which collects and stores daily transactional and almost everyday the data is loaded in to the same. Such databases are used to generate reports and details regarding anything because they possess the latest data that is getting updated each and every regular interval. On the other hand data warehouse is the database in which data is loaded in bulk based on various intervals like weekly, or semi monthly or monthly and while loading, the history is also stored and maintained in the process. Operational database may update existing data but in warehouse it is always maintaining the history as well that will help the organization in this context.

The technology used may also differ because in loading of operational database there can be UI entries or Batch job processing and on the other hand the warehouse loading includes Informatica mappings, datastage, etc.