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Data Model for Invisible Models 
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The idea of Invisible Models occurred to me one day when I was thinking about the insignificant pieces of paper that we collect on a daily basis without realising it.
Each of these pieces of paper, like a Train Ticket or a Sales Receipt, is a link in a chain that leads to a Top-level Data Model, like an Enterprise Data Model.

An Invisible Model is one that starts with something small and trivial, like a Train Ticket and then can be extended to include the Location of the Station,
the Staff who work on the Train, the training they received, the Suppliers who supply the raining, the Train Operating Companies, the Families of the Staff,
the other activities of the Customers, and so on.

In this way, the scope of the small 'Invisible' Model can be extended to an Enterprise Model.
This addresses one of the main problems which is how to get started with an Enterprise Data Model.
HTH
Regards
Barry 

 Invisible Models Phase 1 - Start with the Customer Experience
 Our initial interest is in the Sales Receipt that a Customer gets 
 when making a purchase in a Store.
Data Model Phase 1 for Invisible Models 
 Invisible Models - Phase 2 - Add the Staff Experience
 In the second Phase, we extend our interest to thinking about the 
 life of Staff who get training to do their Jobs, make Journeys to and
 from Home where they have a Family life with Children who go to Schools.
Data Model Phase 2 for Invisible Models 
 Invisible Models - Phase 3 - add Customer Journeys and Staff Skillsa
 Add Locations plus Staff Skills and Training
 Our initial interest is in the Sales Receipt that a Customer will take a Journey by Train.
 This requires a Locations Entity which will have an Origin and Destination.

 At this point, we think about creating an ERD to provide a overview that helps understand 
 the logic begin our Data Model.
 Data Model Phase 2a for Invisible Models 
 Invisible Models - Phase 4
Finally, we have a Top-Level View of what has gone before.
Data Model Phase 4 for Invisible Models 
 ERD without Events
This does not show Events.
Here are links to some Subject Areas :-

  • Journeys (Trains and Boats and Planes)

  • Locations

  • My Life (Home and Family)

  • Railway Reservations

  • Reservations (Generic)

  • Retail Customers

  • School Management Systems

  • Skills and Authorisations

  • Skills Tracking

  • Training Evaluation
    		• Data Model Phase 4 for Invisible Models 
     ERD with Events
This shows Events.
In addition to the links listed above, here is one for another Subject Area :-

  • Events (Canonical Data Model)
    		• Data Model Phase 4 for Invisible Models

    Barry Williams
    February 17th. 2014
    Database Answers Ltd.
    London, England



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