The Data Model Resource Book, Vol. 1: A Library of Universal Data Models for All Enterprises

It is worth repeating what this reviewer indicated in his review of the second volume in this series of three texts on data models: although there are quite a few positive reviews for this series, there are also a nontrivial number of dissenters as well, who cite use of Barker's notation rather than Crow's Foot notation (i.e. Information Engineering notation) as well as unexpected contents within the accompanying CD. When first introduced to Richard Barker's "Entity Relationship Modeling" text during graduate school, this reviewer does admit that becoming familiar with his notation did take some, but all told it does not deviate significantly from Crow's Foot, and after a short amount of time the reader will actually notice some advantages in using it, one of which is the reduced space that substantive models need to consume. Sure, additional information not available with the CD can be purchased on Silverston's companion web site at Wiley, but it really is not necessary. Not only are these downloads not necessary, these may detract from the process of understanding the material that Silverston is attempting to present. And Silverston presents very well.Silverston explains in this volume that clients have inquired on numerous occasions where they can find texts showing standard ways to model data constructs, and "based on numerous experiences of using template or 'universal data models' and customizing them for various enterprises, we have concluded that usually more than 50 percent of the data model (corporate or logical) consists of common constructs that are applicable to most organizations, another 25 percent of the model is industry specific, and on average about 25 percent of the enterprise's data model is specific to that organization. Of course, as John Zachman indicates in the second volume, "Let's get pragmatic. Starting with a universal data model does not absolve anyone of the responsibility of knowing his or her own enterprise intimately, at even an excruciating level of detail! Nor does it absolve anyone from the responsibility of learning how to build data models! What you have to do is start with the universal model, and then understanding data modeling and understanding your own enterprise, make the necessary modifications to make the universal model your own."Barker's notation is presented along with basic modeling in the introduction to this text, after which the author presents chapters on modeling people and organizations, products, ordering products, shipments, work effort, invoicing, accounting and budgeting, and human resources. Five chapters on data warehousing modeling follow, including explanations on how to create the data warehouse data model from the enterprise data model, as well as star schema designs for sales analysis, human resources, inventory management analysis, purchase order analysis, shipment analysis, work effort analysis, and financial analysis. When determining which of the three volumes you might purchase, be aware that there is some overlap between the volumes. For example, the second volume in this series contains models for products and people and organizations. In respect to these subject areas, however, the second volume in this series presents this information in respect to specific industries, while this first volume discusses them in a manner universal to all industries, significantly expanding upon any overlapping areas of the second volume while at the same time remaining industry neutral. Remember though that all of these models are to be used simply as input to your enterprise modeling efforts rather than as end states in themselves.This reviewer recommends this text just as wholeheartedly as the second volume in this series. It can never hurt to get additional insight from other industry practitioners, and compared to other available resources the cost of this text is trivial. Note also that the second volume in this series refers to this volume in a number of different areas, so it makes sense to acquire these two volumes together.

Len Silverston's book on Universal Data Models, "The Data Model Resource Book: Volume 1" is generally well done, and important. The text presents numerous Universal Data Models that can be employed in the design and development of logical data models in support of relational database designs in various industries. Such Universal Data Models can certainly be an aid in furthering the important goal of effective logical data modeling. However, the book is certainly no panacea. Nor, apparently, was it intended to be.By way of background, I ought to share that I initially became involved in the disciplines of logical data modeling and relational database design way back in 1984. Yes, I was doing it before it was "cool". In my own experience, I benefited greatly from the "Extended Relational Analysis" methodology promulgated by Relational Systems Design of suburban Detroit. And yet, it was only eight or nine years ago that I came to be exposed to this notion of Universal Data Models, through work with the IBM Financial Services Models. And, at first, I must admit that my previous training and experience tended to make me want to resist such a thing as a Universal Data Model. However, over several years of working with these universal models successfully on numerous projects, I, too, came to be a "believer".This first volume of Len Silverston's book does a fine job of representing the general sense of the universal models. One does get a sense, in carefully reading the text, that there might have been a good deal of copying and pasting going in the assembling of the text. And that may be regrettable. But, it is also understandable in light of the fact that the author is also evidently a practicioner, naturally constrained more than a bit in terms of time.This volume deals with universal models of key concepts like Party, Product, and Contact Mechanism. And the reasoning behind these universal models presented within the corpus of the text is very worthwhile. In fact, I wish that I might have read this book and series years ago, when I first began working with such models. Having finished the first volume, I have ordered, purchased, and received the second volume, which deals with industry specific models. What better complement can we really offer to the author and publisher of this important work? Well done!

I've purchased numerous modeling books over the years, and this is by far the best. I highly recommend purchasing together with Volume 2 which has specialization of the models by industry type; I also purchased book 3 and they really worked well as a set. One criticism people have had is that the physical implementations require an expensive add on purchase. But check out the referenced example downloads as they include all of the database scripts for implementing parties and party roles, which is arguably the most complex part of the models. The sample scripts together with the book's included Logical Model Entities and Attributes Appendix provided enough detail for me to create a base physical model. Anyway, the sample scripts create a schema with migrating primary keys, which is not the way I wanted my physical model for use with Hibernate, so the purchased scripts would have been only of marginal value. Microsoft use to include a version of the scripts with SQL Server, but using my MSDN account I downloaded and installed the referenced version exactly as described in the Microsoft documentation, and the required final install sub folder as far as I could tell was missing, in case anyone else goes to look for it.As to the level of "detail" provided in the models, refer to Volume 3 as to strategies for choosing right level of generalization. Personally, I really appreciated the provided detail.

A resource for universal models is a valuable resource. This is a great book. The author is biased to a few data models he seems to prefer so it lacks in variety and comparison.

Still relevant today! I don't agree with all the patterns in the book but it is a really comprehensive source of basic data models for business applications. Study them, evaluate them and build your own.

みなさんのためになるのでぜひよんでほしいのです！！！！おすすめ本にはいります

This book provides some commonly-needed models and it will save you some time by giving you a well-made base schema.

Das Buch bringt mir in der Praxis nicht soviel, weil ich hier über viele Seiten nach der Essenz suchen muss. Letztlich ist das aber auch sehr subjektiv. Jemand anderem gefällt der umfangreiche Inhalt vielleicht.