My Business Intelligence OLAP Cube Dilemma

Dilemma was to create small OLAP cube among the aggregated data or to create detailed – big cube with all the details. If deployment started first with small cube and if the aggregation structure is different than from detailed data I’ll for sure through away money when aggregated cube will be created. The reason is that all the effort (code and programming) cannot be applied to the big OLAP cube.

Reason why first small cube needs to be deployed lies in fact that business needs data quickly and does not want to wait too long before all data are available and deliverable. Second important fact lies in the budget issues. Budgets are always problematical and there is a huge chance that budget allows only cheaper solution, like in Murphy’s laws. Where is the dilemma? Shall programming effort be wasted if smaller cube is made first and is it more reasonable to wait in case of negative answer for proper conditions to start big very detailed OLAP cube.