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DATA MODELING & INTEGRATED DATA REQUIREMENTS

Data requirements are the foundation of any software project. They ensure that information and business rules maintained and enforced by an application actually represent your organization’s needs. If the data requirements aren’t right, it is nearly impossible for program code or a user interface to overcome that deficiency.

The job of defining data requirements is often given to a DBA. However, all project stakeholders have a vested interest in ensuring that the data requirements are correct. Only then, should a database be designed or updated.

This course provides a consistent approach to defining data requirements based on proven results and industrystandard best practices. It shows how to tailor our approach to your specific organization and project. It provides a flexible yet step-by-step approach that benefits to every project stakeholder, the project itself, and your overall organization.

Course Benefit

Learn why data requirements are vital to any software project
Learn which type of entity-relationship diagrams are necessary for your type of project
Learn how business, technical, and management project stakeholders can get involved with data requirements in a meaningful and effective way
Learn a step-by-step approach to define and analyze data requirements
Learn how data requirements can provide a stable foundation for software that minimizes maintenance or rework

Course Outline

Introduction
- Define Data Requirements
- Understand how data requirements fit into the big picture
- Distinguish data requirements from various data definition formats
- Realize the importance of accurate data requirements
- Realize the benefit of a visual, modelbased approach
The Conceptual Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD)
- Identify Sources of Data Requirements
- Define Subject Areas
- Define Entities and Relationships
- Understand the Notation of an ERD
- Using a Conceptual ERD
- Exercises and Case Study
The Logical ERD
- Define Attributes and Identifiers
- Define Describing Entities
- Define Structural Entities
- Define Data Relationships
- Define Data Abstraction
- Exercises and Case Study
Analysis of Data Requirements
- Use the Rules of Normalization
- Identify Suspect Relationships
- Identify Entity Synonyms and Homonyms
- Revisit Subject Areas
- Exercise and Case Study
Implementation of Data Requirements
- Define the Physical ERD
- Define External Entities and Attributes
- Transform the Logical ERD into a Physical ERD
- Differentiate an ERD from a Class Diagram, XML, and DTD
- Understand the Impact of Application Architecture
Moving forward
- Review Data Modeling Tools
- Package an ERD into a Deliverable
- Learn ERD Development Approaches
- Tailor an ERD Based on Project Type
- Integrate the Data Model with the Process Model and Use Case Model

Intended Audience

Everyone involved in a software project needs to understand the data requirements at some level. Therefore, the course is helpful to all project stakeholders. It specifically addresses the needs of business analysts, data modelers and architects, database administrators, developers, and system analysts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How practical are the concepts presented in this course?
Every concept in this course drives the definition, improvement, and consensus of data requirements. As consultants, we have successfully used our approach on many different projects and have adapted it to each of their unique project needs. Only concepts that have specific and tangible benefit for a team role or the overall project are included in this course.

On what type of projects is this approach useful?
We will specifically cover how each requirement technique is useful for given types of projects including custom software development, off-the-shelf implementation, maintenance releases, etc.

Can we use our projects as examples in the class?
Yes. Each chapter covers how the presented techniques can be applied for your organization in general and for your specific project(s).

What type of notation does the course use?
The ERDs in the course use the crow’s foot, or IE, notation. We discuss IDEF1X, UML, and other ERD notations as needed. If you would like the course presented in a different notation, please contact us for more information.

Is this class for beginners or for those with more experience in business and system requirements?
This course is for anyone involved in a software project. Individual experience is helpful, but everyone on a project team must use the same approach, terminology, and techniques to work effectively as a team. This course will form that foundation.

Will we get to practice the techniques that we learn in class?
Yes. We will practice every technique presented in class in individual exercises and group case studies. We will practice the techniques using generic business examples to help reinforce the concepts and using your specific examples to help apply the concepts.

How much experience does the instructor have?
All of our instructors are senior-level professionals that spend most of their time on actual project work for clients throughout the country. All instructors have worked on many different types of projects for organizations of different sizes and in different industries. Your instructor will use this experience to help you apply the concepts and techniques to your specific organization and project.

Do you use any modeling software in class?
We will discuss several leading software tools in class and how they impact the definition, management, and use of data requirements. If your organization currently uses a specific software tool, we can discuss its impact as well. However, the main focus of this course is to learn an approach and techniques that are not limited to a specific software tool and can be supported in a variety of ways.

Course Quick Facts

Course Length: 2 days
Location: On Site / Public
Prerequisites: None

Course Details

Benefits Outline

Audience FAQ

With this course, you will receive:

A Certificate of Completion that demonstrates your fulfillment of the course objectives

A comprehensive workbook for use during the class that is also designed as an invaluable reference guide

Participation in exercises and case studies specifically designed to reinforce the skills that you'll learn

Understanding of how to apply each technique at your organization and on your project