| | |  | Manager's Guides to Computing | Home » » » Data Model Patterns: Conventions of Thought | | | | | | | Description: | | Learning the basics of a modeling technique is not the same as learning how to use and apply it. To develop a data model of an organization is to gain insights into its nature that do not come easily. Indeed, analysts are often expected to understand subtleties of an organization's structure that may have evaded people who have worked there for years.
Here's help for those analysts who have learned the basics of data modeling (or "entity/relationship modeling") but who need to obtain the insights required to prepare a good model of a real business.
Structures common to many types of business are analyzed in areas such as accounting, material requirements planning, process manufacturing, contracts, laboratories, and documents.
Topics
In each chapter, high-level data models are drawn from the following business areas:
-The Enterprise and Its World
-The Things of the Enterprise
-Procedures and Activities
-Contracts
-Accounting
-The Laboratory
-Material Requirements Planning
-Process Manufacturing
-Documents
-Lower-Level Conventions | | | Product Details: | | | Author:
| David C. Hay | | Hardcover:
| 288 pages | | Publisher:
| Dorset House | | Publication Date:
| January 01, 1996 | | Language:
| English | | ISBN:
| 0932633293 | | Product Width:
| 1.87 centimeters | | Product Height:
| 2.62 centimeters | | Product Weight:
| 0.02 pounds | | Package Length:
| 10.1 inches | | Package Width:
| 7.0 inches | | Package Height:
| 0.9 inches | | Package Weight:
| 1.5 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 21 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 21 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 found the following review helpful:
 Learn to think like a data modelerFeb 25, 2005
By heartburn
I can understand why this book has gotten some mixed reviews. The author addresses many common modeling problems. But readers looking for instant solutions to those problems will probably be disappointed. Those looking for oop patterns are reading the wrong book. And anyone looking for a beginner's introduction to data modeling will be completely lost. But if you've been feeling as if your database designs could be better, but you're not sure how, you need this book.
Mr. Hay covers many real-world modeling problems. His discussions of these problems give incredible insight into the thought process of a professional data modeler. That is the true value of this book.
I first read this book about three years ago and now I am totally embarrassed by every database I created before. I've re-read it many times since and my copy is beaten and dog-eared. Thankfully, it's a hardcover book.
Make sure you read all the footnotes in the book. Some of them are hysterically funny.
19 of 20 found the following review helpful:
 Potentially valuable, but primarily as a reference.May 31, 2005
By Christopher Wanko
"-C"
I've done some data modeling, and much more process modeling, so I was familiar with Mr. Hay's objectives with respect to data and restricting the model to logical representations of data, whatever that may be.
About six chapters into this book, I realize that while I could continue through to the end, I would likely find this more useful as a companion to a problem. I think the majority of non-academic readers, software practitioners if you will, will extract the necessary value from owning this book given a specific objective, i.e. I have to develop a work management model from scratch, and these are my (current) business rules.
The book covers so many kinds of models that it's entirely possible a reader will have no practical frame of reference, such as the chapter on accounting. Modern accounting software is primarily off-the-shelf, so developing a data model for it isn't something very common today. However, the smart developer understands that living "in the spaces between" software is a very good line of business, so to that end knowing what an ideal data model might have is certainly valuable ammunition when weighing vendor claims and evaluating solutions.
Because it lacks that sort of accessible readability, I am withholding a star. I'd have withheld a half-star if it were possible; I believe the book has great value to a developer or analyst.
Fred
19 of 20 found the following review helpful:
Data Model Design: Going from theory to implementationJan 01, 1998
For years, I searched for a book that would bridge the gap between the theoretical principles of relational database design and the actual application of those principles to a real-world problem; a reference with practical, industry-specific examples of complete data models. David Hay's book is that, and much more. Data Model Patterns provides models for specific enterprise "types". But it goes a step further by generalizing many common entities and relationships to emphasize that, although details differ, there are striking similarities between analogous data structures across enterprises. Along the way, he points out some of the more common mistakes in data model design and how to avoid them (e.g. building "relationship" information into the structure of an entity or failing to recognize the distinction between the existance of an entity and the actual use of that entity). This book is packed with diagrams, descriptions, and analysis tips. It's contribution to my understanding of data model analysis and design is nothing less than transcendental. David, you should rename this book "Zen and the Art of Data Model Patterns"!
16 of 17 found the following review helpful:
The best I have read on the subjectNov 07, 1999
By Yves Chaix
I have been in Data modeling for now more than 10 years and thought I knew what I was talking about. Hay proved me wrong. Even the Universal model which I was so proud to have discovered on my own is there in almost all possible uses and combination (minus one, but I'll only share it with the VERY interested ones). I have had this book at hand for almost a year now and it is one of the few I consult almost daily. My only grudge is it is based on the Oracle methodology. But this is a very personal grudge.
14 of 15 found the following review helpful:
Fantastic Collection of IdeasApr 05, 2002
By Curtis W. Keisler Sr.
This books is great for getting ideas. I use it to help me think about data models that I'm creating. Hay presents his thinking from many perspectives. He's not trying to say, "Here's how you do this data model." What he does is present different aspects of modeling various subject areas; illustrating various slants at approaching models for the subject area. This is very helpful when brainstorming or trying to come up with a model. This book is a great reference that I consult consistently at the beginning of each new modeling task. A must have.
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