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

Silverston c02.tex V2 - 11/21/2008 2:58am Page 43

Level 1 Declarative Role Pattern 43

Table 2-2 Example of Using a Level 1 Declarative Role Pattern, Supplier

SUPPLIER. SUPPLIER. SUPPLIER.

SUPPLIER ID ORGANIZATION NAME TAXATION IDENTIFIER

5632 Matrix Ltd 8567891adc456

5634 Card Queen Ltd 5667840978

6700 Kantowitz Services 55 5555 555

The PARTNER declarative role entity ‘‘is identified as an ally and with

whom mutually beneficial relationships are established.’’

4

This definition does

not say if an instance of PARTNER must be a person or an organization. If you

look at Table 2-3, the instances of PARTNER happen to be organizations, but

the definition does not preclude a person from being a PARTNER.

Table 2-3 Example of Using a Level 1 Declarative Role Pattern, Partner

PARTNER. PARTNER. PARTNER. PARTNER

PARTNER ID ORGANIZATION NAME TYPE I D (PARTNER TYPE NAME)

89 Kantowitz Services 10 (Global Partner )

90 Card Queen Ltd 10 (Global Partner)

100 Matrix Ltd 20 (Asia Partner)

ThePARTNERroleentityhasaname(organization name (or first name,

last name)) that is used to identify the organization (or person) playing that

role. The PARTNER entity also has a partner type id attribute, which is a

foreign key to a partner type entity not shown in the diagram that lists all of

the allowable partner types for an instance of PARTNER. You can see from

Table 2-3 that ‘‘Kantowitz Services’’ is a ‘‘Global Partner’’ and ‘‘Matrix