Semantic Modeling for Data

Chapter 11. Bad Strategy and Organization

Strategy 101 is about choices: You can’t be all things to all people.

Michael Porter

Every time a general goes to battle they first draw a strategy on how to beat their opponent and communicate this strategy to their troops. If they don’t have a strategy they will be defeated. If this strategy is not tailored to the circumstances of the battle (terrain, weather, etc.) and strengths and weaknesses of the opponent, they will also be defeated. And if the composition and organization of their troops cannot support the strategy, they will, again, fail.

Well, the same applies more or less to semantic data modeling projects and initiatives. No matter how knowledgeable and savvy we might be in semantic modeling frameworks, knowledge mining methods and techniques, or other relevant aspects, without the right strategy and organization the initiative will most probably fail.

With that in mind, in this chapter we’ll see some common strategy- and organization-related pitfalls we fall into when designing semantic modeling projects and initiatives, and discuss some possible ways to avoid them.

Bad Strategy

There are two main strategy-related pitfalls to avoid when you contemplate and plan a semantic modeling initiative. The first is not to include any strategic and organizational aspects in your plan and focus instead merely on technical and procedural issues. The second is to include such aspects, but for the strategy you draw to be incompatible ...