6 - Some General Principles for Conceptual, Integration, and Enterprise Data Models

Abstract

This chapter explores the difference between a normalization approach and an ontological approach to data models. It provides an understanding of the set of tools, templates, and techniques that enable one to develop high-quality data models that are in sixth Normal Form. There are two approaches to data model development. These are normalization approach and ontological approach. In normalization approach one looks for the underlying structure by trying to find and extract repeating groups. An ontological approach is quite different. It looks at the data and analyzes what it represents, and then it structures the data around that. Following this, the chapter examines general principles that can be applied from ontology and the basic structure of the modeling components that are available to help achieve those aims. In particular, the principles presented in this chapter are independent of any particular ontological framework one might choose. Furthermore, it provides an understanding of the relationship type as a data model element. Finally, it delineates the six principles for data models.