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Data Modeling and Business Information Analysis

Enable Business Data Visualization with Simple Data Models Everyone Understands

Classroom Live ONSITE – Duration: 2 days (14 PDU/CDU)
Classroom Live ONLINE – Duration: 2-5 days (14 PDU/CDU)
Public Schedule

Some of this content is also available in our eCourses, Books, and FREE KnowledgeKnuggets™

Course Overview

A Business Information Model Is Essential for Data Visualization

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Business information is the heart and soul of information systems. It forms the basis upon which everything else depends. If you get the business information structure right, the rest will follow. Get it wrong and the application may never recover. In order to get the majority of the business information right, it is essential to have a picture of the data in form of a business data model. As the old proverb states, a picture is worth a thousand words.

There are two complimentary methods for modeling business data: top-down and bottom-up. To gain a complete picture of your organization’s information landscape, you need to understand and apply both. The good news is that this is not rocket science. Using the business information model helps you identify potential business problems caused by missing or improperly defined business data resource.

This business analyst training workshop teaches you how to draw and use business information models based on entity/relationship diagrams. It includes a time-proven set of business analysis techniques, methods, and tricks to help you analyze an existing business information model, create a new business information model, and extract informational requirements essential to the success of your information technology projects.

We Tailor the Content to Fit Your Needs

At no cost to you, we can assemble an optimal set of training topics based on your group’s current and desired business analysis skill levels. We can also use our Business Analysis Skills Evaluation (BASE) tool to establish these levels. 

or call 702-625-0146

Target Audience

  • Product Owners
  • Business Analysts
  • Requirements Engineers
  • Business- and Customer-side Team Members
  • Agile Team Members
  • Subject Matter Experts (SME)
  • Project Leaders and Managers
  • Systems Analysts and Designers
  • AND “anyone wearing the business analysis hat”, meaning anyone responsible for defining a future IT solution

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this skill-building experience, you can:

  • Compare the pros and cons of using Business Information and Data Models as tools of communication
  • Create and present business-focused entity-relationship diagrams
  • Analyze a business data model to discover business and stakeholder requirements
  • Elicit and analyze business data attributes from all project stakeholders
  • Morph an existing Information Model into a future data model
  • Extract business data attributes and entities from business user views
  • Allocate business data to the appropriate business entity
  • Plan to incorporate selected techniques to improve your performance on the job

Detailed Course Outline

1 Overview of Business Information Modeling

Visualizing Data Structures

  • The Data Foundation
  • The Business Perspective
  • Data, Information and Knowledge
  • Business Information Models
  • Types of Data
  • The Value of Models

2 Top-Down Business Information Modeling

Modeling Business Data

  • Identifying Entities
  • Relationships and Cardinality
  • Rules for a Business Information Model (BIM)
  • Exercise: BIM for Project Resources
  • For Your Business Information Model
  • Rules for a Logical Business Information Model
  • Exercise: Creating the Structural BIM
  • For Your Logical BIM

Rules for a Physical Data Model

  • Physical Data Model for Project Resources
  • Review of Diagramming Conventions
  • Comparing Levels of BIMs

3 Bottom-Up Business Information Modeling

Normalizating to Identify Redundant Data

  • Two Approaches to Data Modeling
  • Starting with a Simple Form (aka User View)
  • Purchase Order Form
  • Defining Derivable Data
  • Recap Steps 1 – 6 Eliminating Internal Redundancies

Eliminating Redundancies across Instances

  • The Bottom-Up Logical BIM
  • Identifying Non-Redundant Sets of Data Elements
  • Exercise: Identifying Shipping Ticket Data
  • On Merging BIMs
  • Exercise: Merging Logical BIMs
  • Solution: Complete Invoicing System BIM

4 Defining Entities and Attributes

Business Drives the Definitions

  • Defining Entities
  • Exercise: Education Department Brochure
  • Solution: Education Department Conceptual BIM
  • Exercise: From Business to Logical BIM
  • Worksheet: Education Department Logical BIM

5 BIM Requirements Visualization

Modifying Business Information Models

  • Creating a New System Data Model
  • Data Stability
  • Exercise: Modifying the Project Resources BIM
  • Previous Data Model for Project Resources
  • Modifying Diagrams and Forms
  • Exercise: Modifying a BIM and Forms System
  • As-Is Forms for the Invoicing System
  • Solution: Modified Business Information Model

6 From Showtime to Go Time!

Personal Improvement Plan

  • Understanding the Learning Curve
  • Developing Your Personal Implementation Plan

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