Role Playing Dimension

Role-playing dimension is a term used in data warehousing that refers to a dimension used for multiple purposes within the same database. Essentially, the same dimension table is linked to the fact table multiple times, each playing a different role. This concept is often used when a single physical dimension can have different meanings in other contexts.

Date Dimension: This is the most common example. A single date dimension table can be used to represent different types of dates in a fact table, such as:

• Order Date: The date when an order was placed.

• Shipping Date: The date when an order was shipped.

• Delivery Date: The date when an order was delivered.

Employee Dimension in a Hospital Setting:

• Attending Physician: The primary doctor responsible for a patient.

• Referring Physician: The doctor who referred the patient to the hospital.

• Admitting Physician: The doctor who admitted the patient to the hospital.

Product Dimension in Retail:

• Ordered Product: The product that a customer ordered.

• Returned Product: The product that a customer returned.

• Replacement Product: The product was sent as a replacement for a returned item.

Why Use Role-Playing Dimensions?

• Efficiency: It's efficient in terms of storage as you don't need to create multiple dimension tables for each role.

• Consistency: Ensures consistency across different business processes since the same dimension table is used.

• Flexibility: Offers flexibility in querying and reporting. You can easily compare and contrast different aspects (like order date vs. delivery date).