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Learn moreEnterprise data modeling is a process for conceptualizing the relationships between different types of information in an organization. Enterprise data models help users across disciplines store and interact with data more effectively for a variety of use cases.
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The formalized practice of data modeling has occurred since the 1960s and has grown steadily in importance ever since. Today it is commonly utilized by IT professionals to identify the requirements necessary for handling data for the purposes of better supporting the business objects of an organization.
Just like how when moving into a new house, individuals tend to map out where to place furniture, electronics, etc., data modeling minimizes the difficulty of adapting to new environments and simplifies decision-making in complex situations.
As such, data modeling has become an integral part of maintaining the IT landscape and ensuring an efficient means of storing and analyzing data.
Data modeling is a process for conceptualizing the relationships between different types of information in an organization, independent of the organization’s structure, processes, people, or domains.
Data models are a representation of data objects and the relationships between those objects which helps users across disciplines store and interact with data more effectively for a variety of use cases.
This visual guide helps when performing data governance and creating data policies. Data modeling is a way to help organizations become more data-driven.
Source: LeanIX GmbH
IT professionals design data model structures based on the actual ways in which IT entities, personnel, and business capabilities interface with one another. Such objects become the main categories, or boxes, in the model. These objects are all interconnected, and the connections (or relationships) between the items are used to visualize data and guide policies governing this data.
When creating a data model to represent the infrastructure of an information system, it is important to make the models logical and easily understandable for those requiring insights on data objects in relation to their business needs.
Overall, the process of data modeling entails defining the attributes of all data objects and connecting the relationships between the different types of information that need to be stored. This map, or diagram, helps IT professionals understand what key data needs to be stored and easily retrieved.
Data models reflect data that are absolutely essential for a business's continuing operation. Its structure helps align databases across the physical, conceptual, and logical levels. The primary goals of using data modeling are:
Thanks to easy-to-understand representations of the underlying data, it is particularly helpful for developers when creating a physical database (e.g., missing or redundant data can be easily spotted to save time for developers).
If data is not accurately represented, there is a greater likelihood of false outputs from analytics reports and miscalculated strategic decisions.
Though it is easy to become overwhelmed by manual documentation efforts when outlining a data model, the efforts are invaluable when upgrading infrastructure.
There are benefits to using data models of all types.
Unfortunately, there are also some challenges when using data models. In order to effectively create a data model:
Organizations can benefit from three specific types of data models depending on the information needing to be delivered. The three different types of data models are conceptual, logical, and physical.
Conceptual models reflect high-level and static business structures. In most cases, they are only generalized representations highlighting which business objects are involved in an information system.
For theorizing new solutions and efficiently organizing rules, a conceptual model should be employed. This model is commonly used by data architects and stakeholders.
Logical data models focus on data attributes, IT entity types, and relationships between the entities. A logical data model is useful for understanding the nature and compositions of data but not its actual implementation.
They are commonly used by business analysts and data architects to help develop a database management system, a technical map of structures, and rules for the model.
Physical data modes cover aspects related to the design and implementation of databases. These cover the structure of databases, including all relational databases and objects.
They are typically employed by developers and database analysts to show the execution of a structure with the use of a database management system.
Choosing the correct type of data model for an organization rests on knowing the specific needs of a business. However, significant attention must be placed on the variety of stakeholder preferences involved in building a working data model.
Data science professionals, for example, are likely to want models offering full visual views — the likes of which provided with physical and logical data models. Conversely, business representatives interested more in outcomes rather than technical details are likely to select a conceptual data model.
There are three fundamental data modeling techniques: Entity Relationship Diagrams (ERDs), Unified Modeling Language Diagrams (UMLs), and Data Dictionaries.
Using the configurable solution from LeanIX as an example, objects in an enterprise architecture data model can include:
Enterprise data modeling is essential for standardizing organizational assets and optimizing information systems. Though the practice has occurred in various forms for many years, its importance has grown exponentially in the present era of DevOps.
The process of data modeling helps IT professionals define data requirements to support the business objects of an organization. To learn more about data modeling with and at LeanIX, here is information on our flexible data model.
This poster leverages examples of visual data objects to enable you to map the data objects of your organization.
Whether you are in the banking industry, insurance industry, automotive, or logistics; this generic data object template is the perfect starting point.
We have included tips and best practices on how to get started with the modeling of your data objects to get a complete overview of your IT landscape.
What is data modeling?
Data modeling is a process for conceptualizing the relationships between different types of information in an organization. Data models help users across disciplines store and interact with data more effectively for a variety of use cases.
What are the advantages of data modeling?
There are benefits to using data models of all types. The first of which is being able to reliably ensure that data objects in an IT landscape are correctly represented. This information can then be utilized to define connections between primary and foreign keys, tables, and procedures. A data model can then be used to build a physical database if sufficiently detailed. Data models can also be leveraged to communicate to business stakeholders throughout organizations and for locating accurate sources of data to auto-fill the model.
What is data modeling used for?
Data modeling reflects data that is absolutely essential for a business's continuing operation. Its structure helps align databases across the physical, conceptual, and logical levels.
Thanks to easy-to-understand representations of the underlying data, it is particularly helpful for developers when creating a physical database (e.g., missing or redundant data can be easily spotted to save time for developers).