Current Public Seminars
"This is the very best seminar I have ever attended. The examples of situations encountered in the 'real world' were excellent. We have subsequently used many of the Universal Models from the course on several projects to successfully implement modified versions these of these designs."
Cindy Nixon, data warehouse consultant, Frontline Systems
"This is a very useful seminar that I would recommend to architects and designers. We will definitely use these templates as the starting point for new designs and re-designs."
Rod Russell, VP Solution Development, eXcape Business Transactions, Inc.
"Len's ability to equate examples to participants in specific industries was awesome. His delivery of material was riveting. I acquired a considerable amount of new information in addition to reaffirming approaches currently taken in my organization."
W. Beach, British Columbia Ministry of Health
2-Day Seminar
Data Modelling and Data Warehouse Design Using Universal Data
Models
Learn How to Develop Data Models and Data Warehouse Designs by Example
Via "Best Practice" Models
Click here for an in-house quote request or for further information regarding in-house training.
Overview
Data modeling and database design is important. However it can turn
out to be costly and time consuming. One reason for this is that many
standard data model and data warehouse constructs are being modeled
over and over again in various organizations, instead of re-using these
constructs. Even though organizations are unique, generally at least
60% of an enterprise's information requirements are common! If you
are interested in having more tools available to you to develop better
data models, database designs or data warehouse designs in much less
time, then you will want to enjoy this 2 day seminar.
This interactive seminar will share an extremely effective method for developing higher quality data models and data warehouse designs in much shorter time frames. It will provide participants with a powerful toolkit of "Universal Data Models" and data warehouse designs that can be the starting point for data models, integrated data architectures, databases and data warehouses.
Learning
Objectives
This seminar will provide:
- Techniques on how to data model using a broad range of common, re-usable, "Universal Data Models" allowing you to jump start and quality assure your efforts. This will include constructs for modeling people, organizations, relationships, contacts, products (goods and/or services), sales orders, purchase orders, electronic objects and images, web visits, common data warehouse designs, data mart designs and much more.
- Common pitfalls in data modeling and data warehouse designs and "War stories" illustrating consequences of incorrect modeling
- How to translate these universal data model constructs into effective
databases and data warehouses
The "best practice" data models provided in this seminar are robust and have been successfully implemented in a great variety of organizations.
This interactive seminar will teach effective data modeling and data warehouse design by using proven, real-world examples. Participants will learn how to build and customize "Universal Data Models" and data warehouse designs for many common data structures from customer contact management to web visit data structures. This course will not only share effective methods for developing these models, but you will be able to practice customizing them for your environment and take away valuable template data models to use as a starting point for your design efforts. Mr. Silverston will point out data modeling and data warehouse design pitfalls and explain how to create practical, quality designs. Additionally, he will provide step-by-step instructions on how to create architecturally sound data warehouse designs from a corporate or logical data model.
Day 1
The what, why, and how of Universal Data ModelsUniversal Data Models for Parties
This includes common constructs for managing information about various types of people and organizations including customers, suppliers, key contacts, distributors, and internal organizations.
This section will cover many data model constructs including:
- Demographics and characteristics of people and organizations
- Customer, supplier, internal organization, and other contact information.
- Relationship management
- Contact information such as address, phone, email and other contact mechanism structures
- Communication events such as phone calls, meeting, emails and call management
Class exercise in customizing the 'party' universal data models for your organization's needUniversal Data Models for Products
This section will provide product constructs can be used in a wide range of industries since almost all organizations offer some type of product (either goods or services).
This section will cover many data model constructs including:
- Product structures for goods and services
- Product variations, options and features
- Product solutions
- Inventory management
- Products, parts, items, bills of materials, and configurations
Class exercise in customizing the 'product' universal data models for your organization's needs
Universal Data Models for Orders
This section will provide common data model constructs for managing orders, commitments and agreements between parties
This section will cover constructs illustrating how to best model:
- Requirements or needs leading to orders
- Sales orders
- Purchase orders
- Flexible models for specifying ship to, bill to, and various roles involved in order processing
- Agreement and contract models
Class exercise in customizing the 'order' universal data models for your organization's needs
Day 2
Universal Data Models for the WebThis section will provide some data model constructs for managing common eCommerce information.
This section will cover constructs illustrating how to best model:
- Web Object and Image Management
- Web Content Management
- Web Visits (and visitors) and enabling web traffic and behaviour analysis
Implementing the Universal Data Models
This section addresses how to use the data models to implement effective, integrated databases.
Examples of physical database designs will be provided to show how to convert the data model into a physical database design.
Using Universal Data Models to Build Data Warehouse DesignsThis section will address:
- Various data warehouse architectures and guidelines on when to use each architecture.
- Transformation rules for creating an enterprise-wide data warehouse design from a corporate data model
- Techniques for developing quality data marts and data analysis solutions in short amounts of time
- Sample designs for common data mart applications such as sales analysis, financial analysis, and human resource analysis
Audience
This seminar is intended for data modelers, data analysts, data architects,
data warehouse designers, data administrators, database designers,
database administrators, database consultants and any other information
systems professionals involved in data modeling, data architecture,
data warehouse design, database design, or data integration.
In-House Training
If you require a quote for running an in-house course,
please contact us with the following details:
- Subject matter and/or speaker required
- Estimated number of delegates
- Location (town, country)
- Number of days required (if different from the public course)
- Preferred date
Please contact:
Jeanette Hall
E-mail: jeanette.hall@irmuk.co.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)20 8866 8366
Fax: +44 (0)1923 828 770
Speaker: Len Silverston

Len Silverston is a data management consultant with over 23 years of experience in helping enterprises integrate data. He is the author of the best-selling "The Data Model Resource Book" series (Wiley, 2001, http://silverston.wiley.com),which describes over 230 integrated, reusable generic and industry-specific data models. Many of these "Universal Data Models" are now licensed worldwide by Microsoft and included in SQL Server Enterprise Edition. His most recent book, which provides universal data models by various types of industries is currently being translated into Chinese. He is an award-winning, international speaker and a popular writer for publications such as Data Management Review. He was nominated for the DAMA International Individual Achievement Award in both 2002 and 2003. Mr. Silverston's company, Universal Data Models, www.universaldatamodels.com), provides consulting, training and software to jump-start data modeling and data warehouse design efforts while increasing design quality and facilitating data integration.

