Data Modeling Made Simple: A Practical Guide for Business & Information Technology Professionals [Paperback]

Steve Hoberman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 17, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0977140008 | ISBN-13: 978-0977140008

Ever have a bad data day? If you're a business user, architect, analyst, designer or developer, then you've probably had some bad data days. It comes with the territory. Overcoming these problems is much easier if you have an in-depth understanding of the actual data. That's where a data model comes in handy. It's a diagram that uses text and symbols to represent groupings of data, giving you a clear picture of your business and application environment. Data Modeling Made Simple provides the tools you need to read, create and validate models of your business and applications.

This book contains everything about modeling you need to know but were too afraid to ask, such as:

- What are the traditional and nontraditional uses of a data model?

- How do subject area, logical, and physical data models differ?

- When do I build a BSAM, ASAM, or CSAM?

- What is the easiest way to apply normalization?

- Where can I best leverage abstraction?

- How do I decide whether to use denormalization or dimensionality?

- What are primary, foreign, alternate, virtual, and surrogate keys?

- What is the best approach to building the models?

- How can I use the Scorecard system to validate a data model?

Plus over 30 exercises to reinforce concepts and sharpen your skills!

Reviews:

"What a great book—and a fun read too! Steve has captured the essence of data modeling and made it simple. For those who are not data modelers but need to work with them, this book is an excellent primer. For those who model data occasionally but not routinely, it is an invaluable quick reference. And for those of us who are experienced (and incorrigible) data modelers, Data Modeling Made Simple is a terrific reminder that we really can keep it simple!"

David Wells, Director of Education, Data Warehousing Institute

"An excellent introduction from someone who knows his subject and knows how to teach it"

Graeme Simsion, University of Melbourne

“Data Modeling Made Simple is a must read for all professionals new to data modeling as well as those that want to ‘speak the language’ and understand the concepts. Steve writes as though he is right there with you, walking you through the terminology, explaining the symbols, and telling you what you should consider doing before, during and after you have modeled your data.”

Robert S. Seiner, President, KIK Consulting & Educational Services, LLC and Publisher of The Data Administration Newsletter, tdan.com

“Data Modeling Made Simple is an excellent training guide for anyone entering the data modeling field. Steve Hoberman takes the fundamental concepts of data modeling and presents them in an easy to understand and entertaining manner that I’m sure you will find valuable.”

David Marco, President, EWSolutions

“How does one who is not a formally trained ‘data modeler’ understand the basics of data modeling? Steve Hoberman has created an informative, fun, easy to follow, and practical book sharing data modeling concepts which are essential for any professional involved in information technology. Mr. Hoberman clearly answers key questions behind the what, why and how of data modeling and reinforces the explanations with appropriate examples, analogies and exercises.”

Len Silverston, Best-Selling Author of The Data Model Resource Book, Volumes 1 and 2

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

My challenge was to write a book in under 200 pages which costs under $20 that contains everything you need to know about data modeling. I have been teaching data modeling since 1992 and in my training I take a very practical approach, focusing on what can be immediately applied back in the office. I took this same approach with Data Modeling Made Simple. I start off with an example we can all relate to and carry this example throughout the entire book. I added exercises to the text to make the book as interactive as paper can be. I steered clear of mathematical set theory and advanced dimensional concepts and included what a business or information technology person actually needs to know to understand, design, and implement high quality data models. If you would like to chat about anything in the book, feel free to contact me at [e-mail].

About the Author

Steve Hoberman is a global reference data expert for Mars, Inc. and a data modeling consultant and trainer for organizations worldwide. Steve has been teaching data modeling since 1992 and has presented at dozens of international conferences, including the Data Warehousing Institute World Conferences and DAMA International. He is the author of Data Modeler’s Workbench and Data Modeling Made Simple. You can sign up for his Design Challenges at www.stevehoberman.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Technics Publications, LLC (October 17, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0977140008
• ISBN-13: 978-0977140008
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #860,705 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #33 in Books > Computers & Technology > Databases > Beginning & Introductory

More About the Author

Steve Hoberman is a trainer, consultant, and writer in the field of data modeling. He balances the formality and precision of data modeling with the realities of building software systems with severe time, budget, and people constraints. Steve focuses on templates, tools, and guidelines to reap the benefits of data modeling with minimal investment.

After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Queens College and completing a Master of Science in Information Networking at Carnegie Mellon University, Steve joined Bell Communications Research (Bellcore) in 1990 and started his data modeling career on an information engineering project. He was an analyst and data modeler on a team building an enterprise data model for the entire telephone industry. This project offered broad exposure to many cutting-edge disciplines of the 90's - object-oriented modeling techniques, Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE) tools, and first-generation metadata repositories.

Building on the Bellcore foundation, Steve developed an interest in the human side of data modeling and the "next generation" techniques. In 1994 he went to work on Wall Street, performing data modeling work for many financial applications. Many of his "do it fast but right" modeling techniques came from the high pressure projects of Wall Street. In 1997 Steve joined Mars, Inc. as their Data Warehouse Architect. During his nine year tenure at Mars, Steve filled a variety of roles including Lead Data Modeler, Developer Team Lead, and SAP Functional Analyst. Each of these roles provided opportunities to grow and evolve his unique, experience-based approach to data modeling.

Steve taught his first data modeling class in 1992 and has taught over 10,000 people data modeling and business intelligence techniques since then. He has presented at over 50 international conferences in every format from short presentations to full-day classes, and has been selected to deliver keynote addresses at major industry conferences in North America and in Europe.

Steve is a columnist and frequent contributor to industry publications. He is the author of several data modeling books including Data Modeling Made Simple, Data Modeler's Workbench, and Data Modeling for the Business. With interest in building a data modeler's community, he founded the Design Challenges group, which today boasts more than 3,000 data management practitioners who tackle monthly data modeling puzzles. (Add your email address to join this group at www.stevehoberman.com.) Steve is an innovator in data modeling and the inventor of the Data Model Scorecard(R), which has quickly become the standard for data model quality.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just what I'm looking for...., November 29, 2005

By 

R. H. Nijpels "Business Analyst" (the Netherlands) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Data Modeling Made Simple: A Practical Guide for Business & Information Technology Professionals (Paperback)

For over a year I'm looking for a good book to help business analysts to understand data models drawn by others and to train them in creating basic data models needed to cover business needs. I found a lot of good books but all too heavy, too many pages, too detailed and very nice if you want to become a real heavy duty data-guru. There is absolutely nothing wrong with data gurus, every organization needs a few of those, but it needs quite a few more of the 'casual' modellers. This book .. not too big.. a good read.. and even better reread.. It contains exactly everything that is needed for those modellers.

So, if you're a Business Analyst, Information Manager and need a good understanding of Data Modelling, even occasionally need to make one yourself, without having to spend years in training: buy this book..

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book to remind me of what I do., January 5, 2007

By 

James Lee (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Data Modeling Made Simple: A Practical Guide for Business & Information Technology Professionals (Paperback)

This is one of my favorite data modeling books. Not because it provides the most detail into the differences betwen 4th and 5th Normal Form or because it explains in excruciating detail how to develop and Enterprise Data Model, but because it helps me to work with people who are not data architects.

I was recently working with the VP of BI for the company I work for and was telling him that we needed to develop a subject area model for our data warehouse and that we would use it as a sort of road map in building the data warehouse.

He asked a simple question, "What's a subject." I gave him some examples and he said, "Oh, you mean a table." Hmmm....not quite. More discussion ensued and I finally got the point across.

I realized after that incident that I had a hard time communicating exactly what my deliverables would be and why they are important. I grabbed Steve's book off my shelf and re-read it that weekend (it's an easy book to read).

As I looked at the list of things I planned to do in building a new data warehouse and pondered the help I would need from the business users in completing them, I saw more conversations in my future about what I do and why it's necessary. I promptly ordered 3 copies of the book for the business users I interact (including the aforementioned VP) with and 3 more for the junior data modelers on my team.

The book has been very helpful in bringing non-technical folks up to speed to help with a DW initiative. We are currently working on definitions and Steve's examples and guidelines in this area are helping us put together solid definitions and I am doing a lot less editing than I expected.

As someone who does data architecture every day, I sometimes forget why. I just know that I start with subject areas and work my down. I need definitions that are useful, but sometimes find it hard to explain to others what I mean by that. I have adopted Steve'w words and examples when communicating what I do and why I do it that way to others and the best part is that people are getting it.

I think this is one of the best practical data modeling books I own at any price. And on a value/$ scale, this tops the charts.

Nice work Steve!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great combination of theory and practice, September 4, 2007

By 

Frank Kalis - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Data Modeling Made Simple: A Practical Guide for Business & Information Technology Professionals (Paperback)

Think what you want, but to me there definitely IS a difference between books about data modeling written by nonpractitioners and practitioners. Same subject, but sometimes poles apart in terms of quality and readability. Theoretical background is certainly essential for a good data modeler, however many books written by nonpractioners overcomplicate things and fail to bring their points across in an easy to understand language. Likewise there are books by practitioners that seriously lack quality. The book at hand combines the best of both worlds and is a pearl among the entry-level books about data modeling. Easy to read and understand, concise, and straight to the point with "just enough" theory. If you are a beginner in data modeling, this book will help you in getting started quickly and in the right direction. If you are an advanced (or even expert) data modeler, this book is a good reread to refresh your knowledge.