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

Silverston c05.tex V2 - 11/21/2008 3:04am Page 208

208 Chapter 5 ■ Types and Categories: the Classification of Data

added to the pattern, allowing the modeler to relate different classification

types to each other.

Level 3 Classification Pattern

Many enterprises need a very flexible approach for managing and capturing

their classifications, because new classifications for an entity may appear over

time and the nature of the relationships from the classification to an entity

may change over time. For example, the cardinality or optionality may change.

In the previous pattern you saw specific classification entities. This pattern

generalizes the specific classification entities into a single categorization entity

that includes all the various types and allows for much more flexibility and

adaptability when changes occur.

Why Do We Need This Pattern?

Many enterprises add and change classifications as they change how they man-

age and view their businesses. Many enterprises compete by using alternative

analytical approaches to their advantage. To do this they need to analyze their

data in new and innovative ways.

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For example, some enterprises’ marketing

and sales divisions continuously think of new ways to categorize products and

services in order to better understand their customers and the marketplace.

Many enterprises have needs for many diverse ways to classify entities. For

example, on one Universal Data Model ...