How to Build Business Data Models

Business data represents the atomic level of information systems. It forms the basis upon which everything else depends. In a very real sense if you get the business data right, the rest will follow. If you get the business data wrong, the system may never recover. In order to get the majority of the business data right, it is essential to have a picture of the data in form of a business data model. As the old proverb states, a picture is worth a thousand words.

There are two complimentary methods for modeling business data — top–down and bottom–up. This workshop focuses on the top–down method which identifies data entities and attributes "intuitively" based on your or your subject matter expert’s knowledge of the business area.

Note: This instructor-led course delivered in two virtual sessions via the Internet covers the same content as the first day of our 2-day course, “How to Model, Analyze, and Improve Business Data” which can be delivered live at your site.

1. Introduction to Data Modeling

Of People and Data

On Human Communication

Things to Talk About . . .

The Data Foundation

Data, Information and Knowledge

2. Defining Business Data

Creating Data Models Intuitively

Data Model Diagrams

Data Model Diagrams Alternative Graphic Conventions

Data Model Diagrams Additional Information

Exercise: Data Model Diagram for Project Resources

Data Model Evolution

Levels of Data Models

Defining Entities

Exercise: Definitions for Education Department Data

For Your Answer

Exercise: Data Modeling from Descriptions

Exercise: Identifying and Placing Attributes

Simple Document for Invoicing System

Exercise: Data Model from a Form

Identifying Entities

Exercise: New System Data Model from Scratch

Creating Data Models from User Views

Normalization – a Bottom Up Approach

The Order Document for the Invoicing System

Normalized Order

Normalization – Step 2

Normalization – Step 3

Normalization Helpful Hints

On Merging Data Models

Exercise: Combining Two Data Models

Exercise: Normalize an Invoice

Exercise: Attributes of All Invoicing System Forms

Exercise: Complete Invoicing System Data Model

Data Modeling - Two Approaches

Defining Data Model Attributes

Attributes: Inside an Entity

Attribute Definition

Overview of UML Class Symbols

E/R (Entity-Relationship) Diagrams: A Summary

3. Overview of UML Class Symbols

Overview of UML Class Symbols

E/R (Entity-Relationship) Diagrams: A Summary

• Draw business data models
• Compare the pros and cons of data modeling
• Draw data model (entity relationship) diagrams
• Create a data model from requirements
• Morph an existing data model into a future data model
• Build a data model based on existing system documentation
• Assign attributes to the appropriate entity on the diagram
• Analyze data attribute’s characteristics (metadata)

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Web-based	Oct 13 - 14, 2010	Internet	$495	Register
Web-based	Dec 9 - 10, 2010	Internet	$495	Register
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