1. A computer implemented method of relating data and generating reports, comprising: providing an online analytical processing (OLAP) system that includes an in-memory database, wherein the in-memory database stores data in a volatile memory and not persistently on a hard drive; storing, by the OLAP system, a network data structure that relates a plurality of data objects, wherein the network data structure includes a table having a plurality of columns, wherein the plurality of columns includes a first column for a first data object, a second column for a second data object, a third column for a relationship type that defines how underlying database tables for the first data object and the second data object are joined during runtime data extraction, a fourth column for a forward navigation method for navigating from the first data object to the second data object, and a fifth column for a reverse navigation method for navigating from the second data object to the first data object; storing transactional data in the in-memory database in the OLAP system as stored transactional data; and generating, by the OLAP system, a report using the stored transactional data according to the network data structure.