The application developers have to code and unit test the access and analysis programs and scripts. They have to be proficient in the OLAP tool, Structured Query Language (SQL), and the programming languages used to develop the BI application.
Application lead developer
The application lead developer should be the "guru" and mentor to the other application developers. He or she will work closely with the ETL lead developer and the database administrator on any design and implementation issues. If internal training is provided, he or she will develop the training materials and schedule the training sessions (assisted by the training staff if the organization has a training department).
Business representative
The business representative must actively participate in integration or regression testing, as well as acceptance testing. He or she should assist the subject matter expert in writing the test cases and in validating the test results. In addition, the business representative must attend the scheduled training sessions.
Database administrator
The database administrator, who designs and builds the BI target databases, will assist with accessing these databases. The database administrator should review all database calls from programs and OLAP tools and write pass-through queries where required.
Subject matter expert
The subject matter expert is a key participant during development and testing because he or she is probably the person most familiar with the access and analysis requirements the BI application is meant to satisfy . The subject matter expert must provide input and guidance during report and query design. He or she should write (or assist in writing) the test cases and participate in integration or regression testing as well as acceptance testing. In addition, he or she should assist in preparing and scheduling the training sessions.
Testers
There can never be enough testers. It usually takes three times longer to test an application than it does to develop it. The business representative and the subject matter expert make excellent testers. As an additional benefit, they will learn the BI application while they are testing it.
Web developers
Web developers are responsible for designing and building the Web site as well as designing and developing the reports and queries using Web-enabled OLAP tools. They have to be proficient in Web development tools, SQL, and languages such as Java or Perl.
Web master
The Web master is responsible for the administration of the Web environment, such as the Web server, the firewall, the Web site, and so on. He or she should be the "guru" and mentor to the Web developers and may also be the main designer of the Web site. He or she should be able to interface between the Web and the OLAP tools and be able to troubleshoot any problem.
