After gaining some practical experience, data modelers encounter situations such as the enforcement of complex business rules, handling recurring patterns, dealing with existing databases or packaged applications, and other issues not covered in introductory data modelling classes. This intense, participative workshop provides approaches for many advanced data modelling situations, as well as techniques for improving communication between data modelers, business analysts, designer/developers, and subject matter experts.
There are experienced data modelers out there who somehow develop accurate and stable models that are actually used, often in non-typical or high-pressure situations. They get the job done without wasted effort, maintain the involvement and respect of the subject matter experts, and – worst of all! – make it look easy. Others modelers might have great technical skills, but fare poorly, maintaining tense relationships with content experts and developers who “just don’t get it,” and watching in dismay as their models are continually undone by “new” requirements.
What accounts for the difference? Magic? Luck? Better tools? No – it’s having a concrete set of frameworks, methods, techniques, scripts, heuristics, and other tools that they draw on to keep the process moving, with everyone engaged, even when complex, difficult situations are encountered. And that’s what we’ll cover in this full, but fun, two-day workshop – specific, repeatable techniques that you can use to drive your data modelling skills to the next level.
The Business-Oriented Data Modelling workshop by Alec Sharp in October of 2014 was evaluated by the attendees with an overall rating of 9.3. Content wise this workshop was rated 9.6!
Three main themes will be explored:
Topics will be covered with a discussion of the issue, a review of techniques, guidelines and examples, a brief workshop exercise, and a group solution and debriefing. The emphasis is on maximizing the delivery of content while keeping everyone engaged – the workshop has recently been extensively redesigned to focus on the topics that data modelling professionals have continually rated as the most concrete and useful.
On workshop completion, participants will be able to spot various advanced situations (listed below in “Course Outline/Topics”) as they arise in their own modelling assignments, and deal with them efficiently and effectively.
Practical experience with data modelling, for instance, attending our Data Modelling workshop by Alec and/or six months or more of applying the techniques.
Specialist data modelers, data architects, and DBAs who wish to hone their skills. Also business analysts, application developers, and anyone else with substantial data modelling experience who needs additional skills.
Discount for DAMA membersMembers of the DAMA NL Dutch chapter as well as Belux or International chapter are eligible for ten percent discount.
If you register for the workshop “A Business-oriented Approach to Data Modelling” by Alec Sharp at the same time, you will receive discount and pay € 2,479.50 for both workshops and € 2,755.- after expiration of the early bird registration.
At the top of this page you can download the PDF brochure of this workshop.
Van der Valk Hotel Utrecht
Winthontlaan 4-6
3526 KV Utrecht
Telefoon 030 8000 800
The hotel is very well accessible by public transport. From busstop ‘Kanaleneiland Zuid’ it is only a three-minute walk. You can take buses 63, 65, 66, 74 and 77 from Utrecht Central Station and you also take the tram line 20 or 21 from the train station and get off at stop ‘Kanaleneiland’. Please consult www.9292.nl (door-to-door journey planner, also available in English) or call 0900-9292 (travel advice by phone, € 0.70 p/m).
Van der Valk Hotel Utrecht is also located next to the highway A12, exit 17 (Utrecht / Jaarbeurs / Kanaleneiland).
Although the hotel has a large parking garage, we cannot guarantee parking spots. We therefore advise you to go by public transport.
For those who would like to arrive the day before, there is the possibility of staying at the Van der Valk Hotel Utrecht. However, the hotel does not provide special discounts for attendees of events. Therefore, when interested in an overnight stay, please consult Van der Valk directly to make a reservation.
More information about the hotel and the location can be found on their website www.vandervalkhotelutrecht.nl.
The course starts at 09.30 am and ends at 5 pm. Registration commences at 08.30 am.
Course Topics
• Conventions for the essential components: entities, relationships, attributes, and identifiers
• Effective naming and definition
• Basic attribute patterns – handling multi-valued, redundant, and constrained attributes
• More attribute patterns – non-atomic, semantically overloaded, and derived attributes
• Three attributes that always need a qualifier, and seven entity names to avoid
• E-R Diagramming – symbol sets and their problems, rules for readability and comprehension
• Three types of data models before the physical database – contextual, conceptual, and logical
Interesting structures – Generalisation and recursion
• Generalisation (with and without subtyping) – when to use it, and when not to
• Guidelines for using recursive relationships
• Generalisation and recursion working hand-in-hand as a cure for literalism and difficult rules
• Recognizing lists, trees, and networks, and modelling them with recursive relationships
• Staying clear on generalisation vs. roles, states, and aggregation
• Dealing with reference data, the “types vs. instances” problem, and generic reference structures
• Vector modelling – entity or attribute?
Preparing and delivering a data model review presentation
• Context – your audience, and why the model matters to them
• It’s a story, not a data model! Building a storyboard
• Five key techniques for presenting data models or other technical subjects
• The mechanics of the data model review presentation
• A demonstration
Modelling time, history, and time-dependent business rules
• Historical vs. audit data, and when to show them on a data model
• “Do you need history?” – how to tell when your client is misleading you
• Four variations on capturing history in a data model
• Modelling time – special considerations for recording past, present, and future values
• Seven questions you should always ask when a date range appears
• Risk and compliance – why we need “as-of reporting” and how to model data corrections
Modelling rules on relationships and associations
• Using multi-way associations to handle complex rules
• “Use your words” – how assertions, scenarios, and other techniques will improve your modelling
• Associative entities – circular relationships, shared parentage, and other issues
• Alternatives for modelling constraints across relationships
• Advanced normal forms – how to quickly recognize potential 4NF and 5NF issues
Working with higher-level models
• Contextual, conceptual, logical models – what they are, who they’re for, when we need them
• Definitions for each type of model, and common sources of confusion
• Avoiding the “deep dive into detail” – a three-phase method for data modelling
• How to start a large project with a contextual data model
• Guidelines for staying at the conceptual level, and how to tell when you’ve gone too far
Bridging the “E-R vs. Dimensional” divide – the world’s shortest course on dimensional modelling
• The perils of dimensional modelling without understanding the underlying E-R model
• Spotting facts and dimensions – the relationship between dimensional models and E-R models
• Saving time – building a first-cut dimensional model from an ER model
Taking part in this two-day workshop will only cost 1305 Euro when registering 30 days beforehand and 1450 Euro per person after the Early Bird period expires (excl. 21% Dutch VAT). This also covers documentation, lunch, tea/coffee.
If you register for the workshop A Business-oriented Approach to Data Modelling by Alec Sharp at the same time, you will receive discount and pay € 2479.50 for both workshops and € 2755,– after expiration of the early bird registration.
Members of the DAMA NL, Belux or UK Chapter are eligible for 10 percent discount on the registration fee.
In completing your registration form you declare that you agree with our Terms and Conditions.
Extra discounts
Discounts are available for group bookings of two or more delegates representing the same organization made at the same time. Ten percent off for the second and third delegate and fifteen percent off for all delegates when registering four or more delegates (all delegates must be listed on the same invoice).
This cannot be used in conjunction with other discounts.
Payment
Full payment is due prior to the event. An invoice will be sent to you containing our full bank details including BIC and IBAN. Your payment should always include the invoice number as well as the name of your company and the delegate name.
Payment by credit card is available for attendees from countries outside the IBAN region. This is not an automated process via our website but requires a manual transaction by phone or Skype. For Credit Card payment please contact our office by e-mail or through our contact form mentioning your phone number to obtain your credit card information. Never mention your credit card details in our registration form, contact form or in e-mail messages.
“Great course, even for beginners such as me. I learned lots of new things during those 2 days, thanks to Alec's effective way of teaching.”
“Great content to put data modelling on the map within your organization.”
“High quality workshop, that combines a refreshing mix of education, inspiration and active involvement to get the message across. Alec is very approachable and makes a compelling case for the importance of data modelling as a critical skill & discipline in designing (or selecting) fit-for-purpose information systems, and provides numerous tips & tricks to help convince management of this fact. Highly recommended!”
“I am leaving this workshop with much clearer view on my job and the possible issues I may expect, and with a basket of solutions and options already at hand.”
“Thanks Alec for inspiring us!”
“Easily the best ER modelling course I've ever encountered or read.”
“Everything you always wanted to know about data modelling, but were afraid to ask.”
“Very inspiring, based on experience, covering all aspects multidimensional.”
“I learned a lot! Alec is a great teacher who knows how to keep his student on track. He backs up his training material with 'real life' stories. This helps a lot.”
“Great course, even for beginners such as me. I learned lots of new things during those 2 days, thanks to Alec's effective way of teaching.”
“Great content to put data modelling on the map within your organization.”
“High quality workshop, that combines a refreshing mix of education, inspiration and active involvement to get the message across. Alec is very approachable and makes a compelling case for the importance of data modelling as a critical skill & discipline in designing (or selecting) fit-for-purpose information systems, and provides numerous tips & tricks to help convince management of this fact. Highly recommended!”
“I am leaving this workshop with much clearer view on my job and the possible issues I may expect, and with a basket of solutions and options already at hand.”
“Thanks Alec for inspiring us!”
“Easily the best ER modelling course I've ever encountered or read.”
“Everything you always wanted to know about data modelling, but were afraid to ask.”
“Very inspiring, based on experience, covering all aspects multidimensional.”
“I learned a lot! Alec is a great teacher who knows how to keep his student on track. He backs up his training material with 'real life' stories. This helps a lot.”
“Great course, even for beginners such as me. I learned lots of new things during those 2 days, thanks to Alec's effective way of teaching.”
Practically all of our seminars and workshops can be offered as an In-house course for your company exclusively. We can tailor with extra focus on specific topics that apply to your organization. Also available in online format or in face-to-face format with live video stream.
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