Prism Unveils New Release of ITERATIONS Methodology for Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence
ACTION ITEMS

Prism Solutions, Inc., a provider of solutions to deliver business intelligence applications, has announced ITERATIONS 3.0, a new release of its comprehensive methodology. ITERATIONS helps organizations establish a rapid, iterative, repeatable process for building business intelligence solutions based on data warehouses and marts. Among more than a dozen enhancements in ITERATIONS 3.0 are new data quality management processes, an HTML version for Web-based delivery, an end-to-end track for meta data management, expanded design techniques and a comprehensive set of sample deliverables.

Wayne Eckerson, vice president of technology services at The Data Warehousing Institute, said, "Our latest research reveals that the top data warehousing project challenges relate to methodology, project management, design techniques and requirements definition. Applying a proven methodology will help users overcome these challenges and enable them to leverage the experience of industry experts."

According to Laura Simpson, senior advisor of strategic information technology at Inland Revenue New Zealand, "ITERATIONS has provided us with a methodology to help us execute our initial data warehouse strategy with confidence. It has saved us time and given us guidance. We are looking forward to the new release and the enhancements it offers."

ITERATIONS 3.0 Highlights

Prism has expanded and improved ITERATIONS based on feedback from users and its continued experience deploying successful data warehousing solutions across all industries and business applications. Enhancements include:

• Data Quality Management Processes -- includes a new set of tools and techniques for data quality management. They allow users to determine

and act on issues related to data quality evaluation and monitoring throughout the project lifecycle.

• HTML Version -- provides a Web deployment option that makes it easier to educate, communicate and coordinate work across project teams. The HTML version contains hundreds of hyperlinks to help users navigate between the narratives, role definitions, activity templates and the other components. The hyperlinks also automatically launch the Microsoft Office applications associated with the methodology's tools.
• Expanded Meta Data Track -- the Meta Data Track now spans all project phases. It includes processes and templates for capturing, storing and accessing technical, business, operational and management meta data.
• Additional Design Information -- provides expanded guidance in star schema design, dimensional modeling, normalized relational design for the atomic level and multidimensional design.
• Improved Tools and Forms -- includes new tools and forms created in the field, as well as additional guidelines and examples to improve the understanding and usefulness of the tools and forms.

ITERATIONS Components

Designed to accelerate project delivery, ITERATIONS is organized into five tracks, representing parallel groupings of the necessary project work items. These synchronized tracks include over 30 modules that incorporate more than 100 activities and multiple tasks within each activity. Roles and responsibilities are clearly defined for each member of the data warehouse team. A detailed narrative describes the purpose, description, deliverables, responsibilities, key participants, effort, techniques and success indicators for each phase, module and activity. In addition, ITERATIONS integrates a flexible, generic project plan in Microsoft Project that covers the tasks, deliverables, resources, durations and dependencies involved throughout a standard project implementation.

Worldwide, hundreds of IT professionals from major corporations, regional consultancies and global systems integration firms have been trained on ITERATIONS. These include Amerada Hess, The Hartford, Ingenix, Inland Revenue New Zealand and Oakland County IT in Michigan.

Availability, Pricing and Training

ITERATIONS 3.0 is available immediately and is delivered on CD-ROM with accompanying workbooks and manuals. License fees begin at $30,000 in the United States and vary depending on the number of seats and the amount of training required. Prism will conduct training classes in several locations beginning in January, including a one-day course for current customers and a three-day course with case studies for new customers who have no prior ITERATIONS training.

About Prism Solutions, Inc.

Founded in 1991, Prism Solutions, Inc. pioneered the data warehousing market to help companies understand, manage and use business information effectively. Today, Prism provides comprehensive solutions to deliver business intelligence applications. Hundreds of customers worldwide use Prism's solutions to answer high-impact business questions, then take specific action to improve profitability, manage risk and exploit new revenue opportunities.

Prism's framework for delivering business intelligence applications is the most complete in the industry today, including tools for data migration, warehousing and data quality; application components; methodology; and consulting. Together, they provide the technology, process and expertise necessary to enable successful business results.

Prism delivers solutions to its customers on a global scale. In addition to its corporate headquarters in Sunnyvale, California, Prism has regional offices in nine U.S. cities and international offices in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland and United Kingdom. More information about Prism may be found by visiting the company's Web site at http://www.prismsolutions.com