Codd's 12 Guidelines for an OLAP System

Dr. E.F. Codd, who is known for defining relational database theory, also proposed 12 rules or guidelines for OLAP systems. These guidelines ensure that a system can be classified as an OLAP-compliant system.

🔥 1. Multidimensional Conceptual View

• Definition: The OLAP system should support a multidimensional view of data, enabling users to analyze it from different perspectives (like product, time, location).
• Why it matters: It allows for intuitive exploration and visualization of business processes.
• Example: Sales data can be viewed by product, time, or geography.

🔥 2. Transparency

• Definition: OLAP should work with existing data and platforms without requiring users to know the underlying structure.
• Why it matters: It provides a seamless user experience across multiple systems.
• Example: The user should be able to access OLAP data from Excel, Tableau, or Power BI without needing to know SQL.

🔥 3. Accessibility

• Definition: Users should be able to interact with OLAP data via a front-end without requiring knowledge of its physical location or complexity.
• Why it matters: It enables self-service BI (business intelligence).
• Example: A business user can query the OLAP system using drag-and-drop features in Tableau.

🔥 4. Consistent Reporting Performance

• Definition: Query performance should be consistent regardless of the database size.