by Alec Sharp

Data Modelling:
A Business-oriented Approach to
Entity-Relationship Modelling
Two day workshop by Alec Sharp

• Benefit from the skill and expertise of internationally acclaimed VENUE

teacher Alec Sharp Area Utrecht/Hilversum, The Netherlands
• Use entity-relationship modelling to depict facts and rules about business TIME
entities at different levels of detail, including conceptual (overview) and 9.30 - 17.00 hours
logical (detailed) models REGISTRATION
• Four common errors in identifying entities, and how to avoid them www.adeptevents.nl
• Learn how to eliminate confusion and misunderstanding with
well-structured entity definitions
• Learn to use top-down and bottom-up approaches to initiating development
of a data model
• Recognize the four basic patterns in data modelling, and when to use them

This course is a natural companion to the Advanced Data Modelling

workshop by Alec Sharp.
Data Modelling: A Business-oriented Approach to
Entity-Relationship Modelling

Data modelling is critical to the design of quality databases, Two points are worth emphasizing:
but is also essential to other requirements specification • This workshop is packed with practical tips, techniques,
techniques such as workflow modelling, use cases, and service “scripts,” checklists, and guidelines for the analyst. All
definition because it ensures a common understanding of the of the material is based on years of project experience;
things – the entities – that processes and applications deal abstract theory is avoided.
with. This workshop introduces entity-relationship modelling • The emphasis is on “business-friendly” techniques which
from a non-technical perspective, and explores contextual, support and encourage the full involvement of non-
conceptual, and detailed modelling techniques that maximize technical subject matter experts, which is essential for
user involvement. quality data models.

Description Course Topics

Data modelling was originally developed as a tool for • Overview of data modelling: terminology, types of models,
improving database design, but has become a fundamental and key concepts
requirements definition technique for all business analysts, • The essential data model components - entities,
whether they are primarily concerned with data structures, relationships, attributes, and identifiers
application logic, user interface behavior, or business • A three-phase approach to completing a data model
processes. • Initiating a conceptual data model using a bottom-up
A key driver is that applying data modelling early in approach
requirements definition allows analysts and clients to develop • Four common errors in identifying entities, and how to
a common understanding of the business entities (e.g., avoid them
Customer, Order, Product, Part, etc.) that business processes
and information systems deal with, their interrelationships,
and the rules that govern them. This eliminates the problems
of inconsistent terminology and conflicting assumptions that
otherwise plague application development, package selection
and implementation, system integration, and process redesign
projects.
This workshop introduces entity-relationship modelling
from a non-technical perspective, thoroughly covering the
basic components of a data model - entities, relationships,
attributes, and identifiers. In addition to showing how and
when to use these components in developing a data model,
it includes far more advice on the process of developing a
data model than other courses, including specific methods for
getting subject matter experts involved and maintaining their
commitment. The content is presented within the context of a
clearly-defined, three-phase data modelling methodology that
supports progressive detail and precision.
• Eliminating confusion and misunderstanding with well- • Recognize the four basic patterns in data modelling, and
structured entity definitions when to use them
• Four entity types, and rules and guidelines for dealing • Effectively use definitions and assertions (“rules”) as part of
with them data modelling
• Adding detail and rigor - evolving the conceptual model • Use an intuitive approach to data normalization within an
into a logical data model entity-relationship model
• Patterns for common situations - multi-valued attributes, • Apply various techniques for discovering and meeting
redundant data, and reference data additional requirements
• The world’s simplest guide to normalization • Read a data model, and communicate with specialists using
• Primary and foreign keys in logical data models the appropriate terminology
• Meaningless primary keys – rationale and limitations
• Specifying assertions and constraints – rules that can’t be Prerequisites
shown on the E-R diagram None. However, business analysts who expect to do extensive
• Drawing the Entity-Relationship Diagram for maximum workflow modelling will find that some understanding of
readability information systems concepts may be helpful in establishing
• Techniques for discovering, assessing, and meeting new context.
requirements
• Wrap-up – summaries and resources Target Audience
New or experienced data modelers, data analysts, and DBAs
Objectives will benefit from the workshop’s practical methods and
On workshop completion, participants will be able to: guidelines. The workshop is also very popular with business
• Use entity-relationship modelling to depict facts and analysts and application designers/developers needing to
rules about business entities at different levels of detail, understand data modelling and how it supports requirements
including conceptual (overview) and logical (detailed) definition or process analysis. As well, it’s suitable for business
models professionals and managers needing to understand how this
• Use top-down and bottom-up approaches to initiating technique can uncover and resolve inconsistency in business
development of a data model terminology, policy, and rules.
 Course description

Essentials of Data Modeling • A structure for sorting terms and discovering entities
• What really is a data model? • Exercise – developing an initial conceptual data model
• Essential components – entities, relationships, and • Entities – what they are and are not
attributes • Guidelines for naming and defining entities
• The basics of diagramming – Entity-Relationnship Diagrams • Three questions to help you quickly develop clear, useful
(“ERDs”) entity definitions
• The narrative parts of a data model – definitions and • Five criteria that entities must satisfy, and four common
assertions errors in identifying entities
• Group exercise – getting started on a data model, then • Exercise – identifying flawed entities
refining it • Identifying relationships
• Common misconceptions about data models and data • Fundamental vs. irrelevant or transitive relationships
modeling • Good and bad relationship names
• The real purpose of a data model • Multiplicity or cardinality – 1:1, 1:M, and M:M relationships,
• Three types of data models – different levels of details for and useful facts about each
different purposes • Common errors and special cases – recursive, multiple, and
• Contextual, Conceptual, and Logical Data Models – purpose, supertype-subtype relationships
audience, definition, and examples • Attributes – guidelines and types
• How data models help in process impriovement, • Attributes in conceptual models vs. logical models
requirements definition, and reporting
• Forward- and reverse-engineering uses of data modeling Phase 2 – Develop the initial logical data model by
• Overview of a three-phase methodology for developing a adding rigor, structure, and detail
data model • What’’s involved in developing a logical model – shifting
• References – books and useful web sites the focus from entities to attributes
• Multi-valued, redundant, and constrained attributes, with
Phase 1 – Establish the initial conceptual data simple patterns for dealing with each
model • An understandable guide to normalization – first, second,
• Top down vs. bottom up approaches to beginning a data and third normal forms
model – when is each appropriate? • Higher order (fourth and fifth) and Boyce-Codd normal
• Advantages of a bottom-up approach forms
• A bottom-up approach focusing on collecting and analyzing • Guidelines for a smooth progression from conceptual to
terminology logical
• Exercise – developing the initial logical data model
• Four types of entities – kernel, characteristic, associative,
and reference
• Guidelines and patterns for dealing with each type of entity
• How to draw your E-R Diagram for maximum readability and
correctness
• Optional and mandatory relationships
• Considering time and history when looking at relationships
• Six questions to ask whenver a data range appears in a data
model
• Identifying and dealing with transitive relationships – clues
and proof
 Course description

Phase 3 – Refine and extend the logical data model • Using event analysis to discover additional requirements
by discovering and meeting new requirements • Exercise – using event analysis and extending a data model
• Attribute granularity – definitions of non-atomic and • Presentation by teams of their solutions
semantically overloaded attributes • How data modeling relates to process modeling, use cases,
• Guidelines for making non-atomic attributes atomic and services
• The perils of semantic overload, and what to do about it • A layered framework for business analysts
• Dealing with derived attributes, and when to show them on • How other techniques (e.g., workflow modeling) support
the model data modeling
• A classword-based approach to attribute naming • A three-step procedure for meeting new requirements
• Typical attribute documentation • Advice on extending the model in an orderly fashion
• A common source of confusion and disagreement – primary • Exercise – meeting new requirements on the data model
keys • Recap – contextual, conceptual, and logical data models
• What primary keys are, what they’re really for, and three • Different skills and participants for conceptual vs. logical
essential criteria modeling
• Alternate and foreign keys • How the modeler/analysts’s role changes as a project
• Why meaningless primary keys are used, and guidelines for progresses
creating them • A little philosophy for effective data modeling
• Guidelines for reference data • The four Ds of data modeling – definition, dependency,
• Pulling it together – key techniques and guidelines covered detail, and demonstration
in the class so far • Wrap-up – the approach we followed throughout the class

ALEC SHARP

ALEC SHARP, a senior consultant with Clariteq Systems Consulting, has deep expertise in a rare combination of
fields – business analysis and requirements specification, data modelling, strategy development, facilitation,
and, of course, business process modelling, analysis, and design. His 30+ years of hands-on consulting
experience, practical approaches, and global reputation in model-driven methods have made him a sought-after
resource in locations as diverse as Ireland, Illinois, and India.
He is also a popular conference speaker on the Business Process Management, Business Analysis, and Data
Management circuits, mixing content and insight with irreverence and humor. Among his many “top-rated of the
conference” presentations are “The Lost Art of Conceptual Modelling,” “The Human Side of Data Modelling,”
“Getting Traction for ‘Process’ – What the Experts Forget,” “Mind the Gap! – Integrating Process, Data, and
Requirements Modelling,” and “Adventures in Reverse-Engineering – What You’ve Got and Why You Don’t Like It.”
At Enterprise Data World 2010, Alec was awarded DAMA’s 2010 Professional Achievement Award, a global award
given to one professional a year for contributions to the Data Management profession. At the Building Business
Capability 2012 and 2013 conferences, and several other recent events, Alec was the highest-rated speaker.
Alec literally wrote the book on business process modelling – he is the author of “Workflow Modelling: Tools
for Process Improvement and Application Development – second edition.” Popular with process improvement
professionals, business analysts, and consultants, it is consistently a top-selling title on business process
modelling, analysis, and design, and is widely used as an MBA textbook. The completely rewritten second
edition was published in 2009. His quarterly column “A Practitioner’s Perspective” appears at BPTrends.com.
Alec’s popular workshops on Working with Business Processes, Data Modelling (introductory and advanced,)
Requirements Modelling (with Use Cases and Business Services,) and Facilitation and Presentation Skills are
conducted at many of the world’s best-known organs. Conducted on five continents in the last year alone, his
classes are practical, energetic, and fun, consistently earning “excellent” ratings.
INFORMATION

DATE AND TIME PAYMENT

The workshop is organised twice a year, in Spring and in Fall. Full payment is due prior to the workshop. An invoice will be
You can find the exact dates on our website and the workshop sent to you containing our full bank details including BIC and
starts at 9:30 am and ends at 5:00 pm on both days. Registration IBAN. Your payment should always include the invoice number
commences at 8:30 am and we recommend that you arrive early. as well as the name of your ompany and the delegate name.
For Credit Card payment please contact our office by e-mail
VENUE mentioning your phone number so that we can obtain your
Adept Events works with several accomodations in the area of credit card information.
Utrecht/Hilversum. Once the accomodation is confirmed, the Cancellation Policy
information will be visible on the website. Please check the Cancellations must be received in writing at least three
website prior to your departure. weeks before the commencement of the workshop and will
be subject to a € 75,– administration fee. It is regretted that
HOW TO REGISTER cancellations received within three weeks of the workshop
Please register online at www.adeptevents.nl. For registering date will be liable for the full workshop fee. Substitutions can
by print, please scan the completed registration form and send be made at any time and at no extra charge.
this to [email protected] can also fax the Cancellation Liability
completed form to +31 (0)172 742680. We will confirm your In the unlikely event of cancellation of the workshop for any reason,
registration and invoice your company by e-mail therefore Adept Events’ liability is limited to the return of the registration fee
please do not omit your e-mail address when registering. only. Adept Events will not reimburse delegates for any travel or
hotel cancellation fees or penalties. It may be necessary, for reasons
REGISTRATION FEE beyond the control of Adept Events, to change the content, timings,
Taking part in this two-day workshop will only cost € 1305,– speakers, date and venue of the workshop.
when registering 30 days beforehand and € 1450,– per
person afterwards (excl. 21% Dutch VAT). This also covers
documentation, lunch, tea/coffee. MORE INFORMATION
If you register for the workshop Advanced Data Modelling by
+31(0)172 742680
Alec Sharp at the same time, you will receive discount and pay
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the early bird registration.
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Discounts are available for group bookings of two or more
Visit our Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing
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This cannot be used in conjunction with other discounts.
All prices are VAT excluded.

In-House Training
Would you like to run this course in-company for a group of persons? We can provide a quote for running an in-house
course, if you offer the following details. Estimated number of delegates, location (town, country), number of days required
(if different from the public course) and the preferred date/period (month).