The Data Model Resource Book, Volume 3: Universal Patterns for Data Modeling

Silverston c09.tex V2 - 11/21/2008 3:16am Page 546

546 Chapter 9 ■ Using the Patterns

The master data management data model mainly used the level 3 patterns

to create flexibility for maintaining data about the customer (as well as

other various parties involved), party classifications, contact information,

relationships between parties, and statuses of parties.

The master data management data model also included a way to maintain

BUSINESS RULE(s), which may help to manage the master data in many

different ways, such as who is allowed to see certain types of master data, how

parties are matched, and rules about customers and other party roles. Other

rules are maintained by using the Level 3 Recursive Pattern with Rules for

STATUS TYPE(s) and PARTY RELATIONSHIP(s). Thus, the flexibility of the

patterns also gets constrained by rules that manage the relationships that may

exist in the reference data.

This is a complex data model that utilizes many flexible data patterns.

Because the models use many generalization concepts, some audiences may

have a harder time understanding this type of model. Some data professionals

may feel that modeling rules within the master data management data model

is overkill. Though that may be the case in some enterprises, other enterprises

(rules-driven enterprises) can use these powerful constructs to help ensure the

integrity of their master data while providing a very flexible ...