Ubiquitous modeling

Before defining data structures, we need to understand the business model that generates them. Such a model will make it possible to build a database system aligned with business processes and able to anticipate change. Like seeing a forest for the trees, ubiquitous modeling allows us to see the business for the data.

A business has many layers: from a mission statement that defines a company ethos, to the sales transactions, to the logistics that support them, to the data, metadata, analysis, and more. However, when most people think of a model, they tend to focus only on the data layer—forgetting that, in isolation, the data only tells part of the story.

In reality, the modeling process involves teams across the entire organization, including management, business departments, data teams, and analysts. Everyone in the organization, no matter their technical background or domain expertise, will work with modeling in some capacity (even if it is in the...