AM9: Requirements Discovery Using a Conceptual Data Model

Our business colleagues are key to providing the core information about the business needs that you use to build data models, applications and configure packages. But how do we elicit the key facts from the business? Have you ever tried to get a business person to read a data model? Did their eyes glaze over? Is it even realistic to expect these folks to know "all of the requirements"? Of course not. Modern requirements approaches demand a "co-creation" philosophy:

This workshop discusses:

What is a Conceptual Data model, why it’s important and the pivotal role it plays in ALL architecture disciplines
The major differences between a Conceptual data model & other type of data models
How to use high-level data models to communicate with business people to get the core information you require to build robust applications
Why the Conceptual data model is NOT just for DBMS’s; the critical use of the CDM in other areas (mergers & acquisitions, communicating with the business, package configuration and more)
What core information is needed, how this can be easily communicated to business people, and what visual constructs to use to get their attention
Templates and guidelines for a step-by-step approach to implementing a high-level data model in your organization

Christopher Bradley has over 30 years Information Management experience and his career has included the UK Ministry of Defence, Volvo Europe, Thorn EMI, Readers Digest Inc (as European CIO), and Coopers and Lybrand (later PWC) where he established and ran the International Data Management specialist practice. Later he established and ran a UK based Consultancy practice. Chris is currently the Chief Data Officer at FromHereOn. He advises Global organisations including ANZ, TOTAL, ACE, BP, Statoil and Saudi Aramco on Data Governance, Information Management best practice and how organisations can genuinely exploit Information. Chris sits on many assorted Oil & Gas standards bodies, an executive of DAMA, a contributor to DMBoK 2.0, member of the Metadata Professional Organisation (MPO) and holder at “Master” level and examiner for the DAMA CDMP professional certification. He has authored many white papers and co-authored a book.

Donna is an established industry expert with more than 20 years of experience in information management, metadata management and enterprise architecture. Donna has unique insight in the field of information management, as she has led successful implementation projects worldwide, and has then used this experience to drive the design and production of several of the leading metadata and data modeling tools on the market today, while at the same time being involved with industry standards organisations to set best practices for architectural design. Donna is a recognized speaker at industry conferences worldwide, and has co-authored two books: ‘Data Modeling for the Business – A Handbook for Aligning the Business with IT using High-Level Data Models’ and ‘Data Modeling Made Simple with CA ERwin Data Modeler r8'. She is published regularly in industry journals and venues such as Information Management magazine and DATAVERSITY, and has a regular column on TDAN.