What is the underlying issue when a business analyst observes that selecting a CompanyName results in displaying white OrderID records?

When a business analyst sees that selecting a CompanyName results in displaying white OrderID records, one possible underlying issue is related to the structure of the logical model used in data modeling. A star schema is an important concept in data warehousing that organizes data into fact and dimension tables in a way that facilitates efficient querying and analysis.

In a true star schema, dimensions like CompanyName and fact tables such as OrderID should have well-defined relationships. If the logical model is not structured as a star schema, it could lead to issues such as missing relationships or incorrect join paths, which can prevent the expected data from being displayed correctly. This structure is essential for ensuring that selections in dimensions properly filter related measures in fact tables.

When the logical model deviates from a star schema, data inconsistencies or retrieval problems can arise, leading to situations where selections yield unexpected results, such as displaying blank or irrelevant records. This indicates that the model lacks the necessary relationships to filter data accurately, making it difficult to visualize associations between data elements.

Understanding the implications of a non-star schema can help the analyst to re-evaluate the data model to ensure it supports the necessary filtering and analysis capabilities.