Which of the following operations is outside the scope of a Business Intelligence (BI) reporting system that reads from data warehouses and data marts? Select the single best answer.
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AFilter data
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BGroup data
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CModify data
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DBoth filter and group data
Answer
Correct Answer: Modify data
Explanation
Introduction / Context:BI reporting systems are primarily read-oriented: they aggregate, filter, and present data for decision-making. Distinguishing read-only operations from write operations helps maintain data integrity in analytical stores.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Source: data warehouse/mart optimized for reads.
- BI reports perform queries and aggregations.
- No transactional updates should occur from the reporting layer.
Concept / Approach:
Reporting tools run SELECT queries with filters, groups, and calculations. Data modification (INSERT/UPDATE/DELETE) belongs to ETL/ELT processes, data quality operations, or transactional systems—not to end-user reporting interfaces.
Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Identify read operations: filtering, grouping, aggregating, sorting.2) Identify write operations: modifying persisted data.3) Match the reporting role: read-only, hence modifying data is out of scope.Verification / Alternative check:
Enterprise BI platforms enforce read-only connections to warehouses in production; write access is restricted to ETL or admin roles.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Filter: core reporting function. Group: essential for aggregates. “Both filter and group” contradicts BI purpose.
Common Pitfalls:
Allowing ad-hoc users write permissions to analytics stores; mixing OLTP updates with analytical schemas (star/snowflake models).
Final Answer:
Modify data