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

Silverston c02.tex V2 - 11/21/2008 2:58am Page 37

What Is a Declarative Role? 37

The chapter describes how each pattern supports the attributes that a particular

role needs and the common attributes that all people and organizations have,

irrespective of the role they play. The chapter goes on to describe how each

pattern may support the demarcation of roles for people and organizations

if it is applicable. The chapter also describes how each pattern handles the

situation when the same person or organization plays more than one role.

Like most of the chapters in this book, the style of modeling for each

of the patterns starts with the most specific style (Level 1 Declarative

Role Pattern) and progresses through the chapter to a more flexible style

(Level 3 Declarative Role Pattern). The different levels of generalization may

be applicable to different enterprises or styles of modeling.

In summary this chapter includes the following:

The definition of a declarative role

The different levels of declarative role patterns

When to use and not to use different declarative role patterns

Insights into each pattern

The relevance of each pattern

A synopsis of each of the patterns, pros and cons, when to use and not

use them

What Is a Declarative Role?

Roles represent the part that an organization or person plays within the

context of a particular enterprise. There are two types of roles: declarative

and contextual. ...