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)
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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

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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