Extended Relational Analysis Workshop

3 Day relational data modelling course

Extended Relational Analysis (ERA) is a three-step, highly visual process for relational data modelling and database design. ERA is structured so that every activity results in a tangible product that directly contributes to the final system. The strength of ERA is that it teaches the right questions to ask, opens the lines of communications between users and analysts, and includes all participants as part of the solution.

Audience

Analysts, designers, developers, and business users who participate in the definition and development of relational database applications. This course will also benefit experienced data modellers who wish to evaluate additional techniques for repeatable, visual, business user friendly data analysis.

Objectives

• Understand relational database terms and concepts

• Develop a relational model for a business area

• Participate in database design sessions

• Establish clear and concise communication between user and analyst

• Propose, evaluate, and choose between design alternatives

• Understand the capabilities and limitations of a database design

Approach

The ERA process is taught, step by step, as it is used in the development of an application. It begins by identifying the persons, places, and things (entities) of a business, and modeling them in table form. Next, relationships between entities are identified and documented in the same concise and unambiguous way. Finally, attributes of both entities and relationships are identified and normalized into the correct tables. Sample data is always used to verify the model. The result is a data model that is precise, complete, flexible and yet easily understood.
 

The ERA workshop also addresses the following: face-to-face interviewing and facilitation techniques; entity types and sub-types; parent and dependent entities; intelligent keys; and advanced forms of one-to-one, one-to-many, and many-to-many relationships including recursive relationships, complex relationships, and time relationships.

Topics

• Define the language used to analyze the system

• Identify the entities in the system (people, places, things)

• Model Entities into tables

• Identify and document the relationships between entities
• Identify the attributes of the entities
• Normalize the attributes into the proper table
• Define entity types and sub-types
• Define intelligent keys (indexes)
• Dealing with Complex and Recursive Relationships
• Modeling of time
• Facilitation and Joint Application Development (JAD)
• Data warehouse design - translating ERA models to dimensional models

Content

1. Introduction

• Situations
• Relational Data Models
• Extended Relational Analysis
• Language & Constructs
• Investigation techniques
• Review & Exercises

2. Definitions

• Tables
• Null Values
• Duplicate Values
• Changeable Values
• Primary Keys
• Foreign Keys
• Derivative Data
• Review & Exercises

3. Basic Relational Analysis

• Entities
• Relations
• Attributes
• Review & Exercises

4. Extended Relational Analysis

• Subsets of Entities
• Dependents of Entities
• Recursive Relations
• Complex Relations
• Time Relations
• Review & Exercises

5. Facilitation and JAD

• Consensus Modeling
• Planning
• Preparation
• Facilities
• Roles & tools
• Conduct of session
• Documentation
• Follow up
• Closure

6. Data Warehouse Design (Optional)

• Logical Data Modelling vs. Physical Data Modelling
• How ERA terms and concepts relate to dimensional modelling

Instructors

The course is presented by Pat Harrell a leading ERA practitioner and evangelist. The final optional topic is taught by data warehouse design expert Lawrence Corr.

Material

Students receive a 170 page manual with detailed exercises and answers, a table drawing pad, three coloured pens corresponding to each modeling step, and a handy reference card.

Dates

Available on demand. Please call +44 (0)7971 964824 or email training@decisionone.co.uk

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