Prototyping an Academic Data Warehouse: Case for a Public University in Kenya

Abstract

This study aimed at determining the gaps between university top decision makers in a public university in Kenya and IT personnel in accessing, analyzing and reporting data. We sought to determine an easier and quicker way to analyze data, design, and implement a solution to turn analysis into a report with little or no help from IT department. A survey showed that the University’s existing systems do not allow the top management to explore data, analyze data, and create quick reports. They depend on IT personnel to access data that they need to analyze and generate reports. As result the decision makers tend to have an uneasy relationship with IT people. The study successfully implemented a data warehouse database composed of a single multidimensional cube based on subject area of Fee Payment. By implementing a Business Intelligence (BI) program based on Excel, we turned ordinary spreadsheets into a flexible, powerful, and inexpensive BI system that gives users significant power and flexibility.