Customer Reviews

Data Modeling (Contemporary Issues in Information Systems)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have introduced a good variety of developers and analysts to this little book with a positive reaction on all occasions. It makes very few assumptions and moves rapidly from the introductory level to advanced practicality. The author has a style which is commendably concise and precise, relaxed but not wordy, illustrating with copious diagrams. His enthusiasm and professional attitude are obvious, his experience coming from extensive teaching and consulting in the USA and China. He promotes data modeling and database design for systems of any size by entity relationship analysis and diagramming and speaks as a generalist, not tied to any specific database technology.

Chapter 1: the difference between conceptual, logical, and physical database design. Good for those who need to be released from inveterately thinking at the physical level.

Chapter 2: the Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD), entity attributes, cardinality, recursive relationships, optional/mandatory bounds, and a fascination little section on Quillan's semantic data model for artificial intelligence (AI) knowledge modelling.

Chapter 3: how to convert ERD's to relational tables, and performance v. flexibility.

Chapter 4: worked examples - a range of simple starter data models. Includes Human Resources dept., tech support, ticket reservation systems, a charity, industrial production operations manage systems, and activity-based costing.

Chapter 5: strategic database planning across the organisation to avoid duplication of effort.

Chapter 6: Object-oriented data modeling (unfortunately predating UML, time for a second edition Lawrence!).

The appendix covers normalization of a relational data model beautifully, including create/update/delete anomalies, functional dependency between attributes, and Normal Form (first normal form, second normal form, third normal form, and domain key normal form (DKNF)). There is an useful reference bibliography and index.

Excellent value, highly recommended.

A logically and consisely written primer to the fundamentals of data modeling. At 123 pages of text (plus an appendix)it offers the advanced data modeler nothing more than a well-written review of the basic ideas behind modeling. However, novices to the concept will be able to quickly apply sound data modeling methodolgy after reading this book.

This is an excellent introductory text book on data modeling, but I bet even experts will find it useful. It is amazing how much information this short volumn contains. It has an exceptional treatment on E-R to relational tables mapping. It also provides a catalog of E-R diagrams that is extremely useful for learning

This is an outstanding text for dbms courses. I use it with another, more broadly-focused text in my dbms course. It has easy-to-understand diagrams and it is easy to read as well.

Daniel A. Joseph, Ph.D. - RIT College of Business

I purchased this book for a new database designer and as a review for myself. We both found it to be extreemly helpful, insightful, and useable. The examples are very clear and relevant. I'd recommend this book as a good basic reference or a "getting started" text.

This is good book for introductory data modeling. The concepts are pretty strait forward, and should not pose any great intellectual challenge. If you already do database design work, then forget this book. I've used it more as a logical design primer for training entry level DBAs.

The book seems to have been conceived as a textbook, and some of the pages devoted to general IT discussion seems a little redundant to me (especially considering that the book is quite short).

Despite this, I consider it a very useful book on the subject, and the advice on how to structure data is very well presented and convincing.

What surprised me is to find some very good hints and rules of thumb on practical aspect of Data Modeling, which usually you don't find in this kind of books.

I've not yet been able to try out the data design methodology detailed in the book, but I'm more than willing to give it a try next time I have to participate in specifying an application DB.

All in all, a good buy. It short enough that reading it cover to cover is not a daunting project, and after having read it once you will probably want to use at least part of what you found in it. I'd really like to see a similar treatment for other IT ideas and problems, like OO design, for example.

Sanders has remarkably developed a compact inexpensive book that articulates the concepts of Data Modeling in an understandable and efficient manner. Most Data Modeling books cost 5 times as much. This book has it all for 15 to 20 dollars and is a Fundamental MUST for any Database Designer.

This book gives you the basics on how to develop solid data models. The only problem I can see with this book, is that you need to have some clue of what you are doing before reading this book. If you want something that will take you step-by-step read "Database Design For Mere Mortals" by Robert Hernandez. This book takes nothing for granted and goes through the whole database design process, from the first interview with the user(s), to the actual design of the database. Overall, I thought this book as good, especially to be only 100+ pages or so. However, buy the other book if you need more indepth knowledge.

This book was really great. I found myself understanding every concept the first read. The book gave me the most info in the shortest amount of time, compared to any other book I've read. For those of you who have been working informally with databases for awhile, this book is the next step. I believe the book helps beginners all the way to the experienced. The only thing I would suggest is to have some knowledge of relational databases. Even if all you've used is Access, that will do.