Data Model Patterns

12. Lower-Level Conventions

The patterns in this book address the fundamental structures of a business. The idea is that many kinds of business can use some or all components of these models. After the first two chapters of introduction, we saw models for four primary elements that occur in any business or government agency:

• the people and organizations with which the organization deals

• the “stuff” that it manipulates, makes, and uses

• its activities

• its contracts and other relationships with the world at large

The remaining chapters (Chapters Seven through Eleven) addressed more specialized themes that elaborated on the first four groups of patterns. Some were pervasive, like the treatment of accounting or documents. Some were of interest ...