This is an excerpt from the IDC Technology Spotlight June 2015 report, Enabling Enterprise Agility Through Model-Driven Data Design. This paper examines the growing importance of model-driven processes for database design and management. You can download the entire report here.

In the webinar, Demystifying Macros with ER/Studio, Embarcadero Software Consultant Stanley Chan demonstrated how macros work in ER/Studio. He showed how to use the built-in macros and also shared some custom macros during the session. If you missed the live presentation, you can watch it on demand. There were a lot of great questions during the session, some of which Stan didn’t have time to answer live. So he has provided responses to several of those for this blog. Q: In the color-coding de...

In my last post, I suggested that the conventional “facet” approach to designing master data models (in which each master domain is modeled, designed, and implemented in isolation from the others in the enterprise) creates gaps in the ability to effectively build applications that facilitate successful execution of end-to-end business processes. For example, the perception (and consequently the definition) of the role of a “customer” changes between the marketing, sales, finance, fulfillment, an...

On April 28, 2015, Embarcadero announced the XE7 release of our award-winning ER/Studio data modeling and architecture suite, with new features to improve agility and collaboration in enterprise data landscapes. Let’s highlight them, and for more details and a demonstration, you can watch the on-demand webinar from April 30th. ER/Studio continues to incorporate new capabilities and features to improve the user experience, enhance the data architecture, and address emerging industry technologies...

In my previous post, we examined some of the challenges associated with developing data models for master data entities managed within an MDM environment, and I implied that achieving the holy grail of MDM, namely the (elusive, if not purely mythical) “golden record” would first require a practice for business-oriented data conceptual and logical data modeling. We tend to have a “dimensional attitude” about master data, focusing on “customer master” or “supplier master” or “product master” as i...

When we review the evolution of new data architecture and development methodologies, along with the corresponding changes in corporate culture, we can see that there have been numerous approaches over the years. In the earlier days of traditional / waterfall processes for data modeling, there was a more rigid organizational structure with data modelers, programmers, and system analysts. Agile methodologies emerged in an attempt to address the shortcomings of traditional practices. The focus chan...

I had a recent email exchange in which a customer was looking for guidance in developing data models for master data entities used across multiple business functions and domains. One of the motivating factors was the desire for evolving a “golden record” (a term that makes me bristle each time I hear it, by the way) for each master entity type – a golden customer record, a golden product record, etc. I expressed my concern about two things: attempting to create a model intended to represent a s...

Anthem Inc. – 80,000,000 records stolen; Sony Pictures – 100 terabytes of data stolen; JP Morgan Chase – 70,000,000 records stolen; and EBay – 145,000,000 records stolen. This short list is the “tip of the iceberg” of organizations across all industries that have had significant amounts of their customer, employee, and other important organization data stolen. With the increased reliance of digital information by organizations and their customers, these trends will likely continue and be fueled ...

Ron Huizenga, ER/Studio Product Manager, gave an interview on SSWUGtv to discuss data modeling for the DBA. Database administrators may find themselves asked to take care of modeling tasks that are not part of their normal job scope, which could result in frustration. By getting involved in the data modeling process, a DBA can better understand potential performance implications and provide that insight back into the database and its models.   Tools like ER/Studio and DB PowerStudio can h...

Ron Huizenga, ER/Studio Product Manager, gave an interview on SSWUGtv to discuss data architecture challenges that impact us all as data professionals. These key challenges include: New methodologies Big data Multiple diverse data sources Data quality Business focus on usage of the data With many different variables and moving parts, today’s data environments required a dedicated process to manage them effectively. The best approach is still to define a design up front to ensure you ha...