CAIRO BOOKS's Description
This third volume of the best-selling "Data Model Resource Book" series
revolutionizes the data modeling discipline by answering the question "How can
you save significant time while improving the quality of any type of data
modeling effort?" In contrast to the first two volumes, this new volume focuses
on the fundamental, underlying patterns that affect over 50 percent of most
data modeling efforts. These patterns can be used to considerably reduce
modeling time and cost, to jump-start data modeling efforts, as standards and
guidelines to increase data model consistency and quality, and as an objective
source against which an enterprise can evaluate data models.
Praise for The Data Model Resource Book, Volume 3
"Len and Paul look beneath the superficial issues of data modeling and have
produced a work that is a must for every serious designer and manager of an IT
project."
— Bill Inmon , World-renowned expert, speaker, and author on data warehousing
and widely recognized as the "father of data warehousing"
" The Data Model Resource Book, Volume 3: Universal Patterns for Data Modeling
is a great source for reusable patterns you can use to save a tremendous amount
of time, effort, and cost on any data modeling effort. Len Silverston and Paul
Agnewhave provided an indispensable reference of very high-quality patterns for
the most foundational types of datamodel structures. This book represents a
revolutionary leap in moving the data modeling profession forward."
— Ron Powell , Cofounder and Editorial Director of the Business Intelligence
Network
"After we model a Customer, Product, or Order, there is still more about each
of these that remains to be captured, such as roles they play, classifications
in which they belong, or states in which they change. The Data Model Resource
Book, Volume 3: Universal Patterns for Data Modeling clearly illustrates these
common structures. Len Silverston and Paul Agnew have created a valuable
addition to our field, allowing us to improve the consistency and quality of
our models by leveraging the many common structures within this text."
— Steve Hoberman , Best-Selling Author of Data Modeling Made Simple
"The large national health insurance company I work at has actively used these
data patterns and the (Universal Data Models) UDM, ahead of this book, through
Len Silverston’s UDM Jump Start engagement. The patterns have found their way
into the core of our Enterprise Information Model, our data warehouse designs,
and progressively into key business function databases. We are getting to reuse
the patterns across projects and are reaping benefits in understanding,
flexibility, and time-to-market. Thanks so much."
— David Chasteen , Enterprise Information Architect
"Reusing proven data modeling design patterns means exactly that. Data models
become stable, but remain very flexible to accommodate changes. We have had the
fortune of having Len and Paul share the patterns that are described in this
book via our engagements with Universal Data Models, LLC. These data modeling
design patterns have helped us to focus on the essential business issues
because we have leveraged these reusable building blocks for many of the
standard design problems. These design patterns have also helped us to evaluate
the quality of data models for their intended purpose. Many times there are a
lot of enhancements required. Too often the very specialized business-oriented
data model is also implemented physically. This may have significant drawbacks
to flexibility. I’m looking forward to increasing the data modeling design
pattern competence within Nokia with the help of this book."
— Teemu Mattelmaki , Chief Information Architect, Nokia
"Once again, Len Silverston, this time together with Paul Agnew, has made a
valuable contribution to the body of knowledge about datamodels, and the act of
building sound data models. As a professional data modeler, and teacher of data
modeling for almost three decades, I have always been aware that I had
developed some familiar mental "patterns" which I acquired very early in my
data modeling experience. When teaching data modeling, we use relatively simple
workshops, but they are carefully designed so the students will see and acquire
a lot of these basic "patterns" — templates that they will recognize and can
use to interpret different subject matter into data model form quickly and
easily. I’ve always used these patterns in the course of facilitating data
modeling sessions; I was able to recognize "Ah, this is just like . . . ," and
quickly apply a pattern that I’d seen before. But, in all this time, I’ve never
sat down and clearly categorized and documented what each of these “patterns’’
actually was in such a way that they could be easily and clearly communicated
to others; Len and Paul have done exactly that. As in the other Data Model
Resource Books, the thinking and writing is extraordinarily clear and
understandable. I personally would have been very proud to have authored this
book, and I sincerely applaud Len and Paul for another great contribution to
the art and science of data modeling. It will be of great value to any data
modeler."
— William G. Smith , President, William G. Smith & Associates,
www.williamgsmith.com
"Len Silverston and Paul Agnew’s book, Universal Patterns for Data Modeling,
is essential reading for anyone undertaking commercial datamodeling. With this
latest volume that compiles and insightfully describes fundamental, universal
data patterns, The Data Model Resource Book series represents the most
important contribution to the data modeling discipline in the last decade."
— Dr. Graeme Simsion , Author of Data Modeling Essentials and Data Modeling
Theory and Practice
"Volume 3 of this trilogy is a most welcome addition to Len Silverston’s two
previous books in this area. Guidance has existed for some time for those who
desire to use pattern-based analysis to jump-start their data modeling efforts.
Guidance exists for those who want to use generalized and industry-specific
data constructs to leverage their efforts. What has been missing is guidance to
those of us needing guidance to complete the roughly one-third of data models
that are not generalized or industry-specific. This is where the magic of
individual organizational strategies must manifest itself, and Len and Paul
have done so clearly and articulately in a manner that complements the first
two volumes of The Data Model Resource Book . By adding this book to Volumes 1
and 2 you will be gaining access to some of the most integrated data modeling
guidance available on the planet."
— Dr. Peter Aiken , Author of XML in Data Management and data management
industry leader VCU/Data Blueprint