Entities - Now There’s a Thing

Entities are "things" your business needs

For which systems must store information.

You'll notice them wherever you look,

Using your keen powers of observation.

 

There’s ‘Customer’, familiar to us all,

And also ‘Product’, Address’ and ‘Account’?

Then many others will leap out at you,

And the number of “things” starts to mount.

 

Many entities, you’ll find, are nouns,

Begin with those referenced by a number.

Those less clear-cut are next to be found,

But will loom in your dreams as you slumber.

 

You’ll give each “thing” its own vivid name,

And conjure up perfect words to define it.

You'll understand that “thing” much better now

As you work with your team to refine it.

 

Conceptual models often only need

A very small number of entities.

A Logical model needs so many more,

Perhaps you won’t see the wood for trees.

 

If that’s the case, then your model’s a maze!

Split it into smaller chunks by topic?

Your model will be easier to read,

No longer will it be telescopic.

 

A thing you’ll surely have to think about:

How much you should abstract (generalize)?

Abstraction tends to lose some business sense,

That call is yours, though others can advise.

 

This ode to entities is now complete.

You’re starting to grasp, to understand

The thrill of bringing business data to life.

Look out for other poems that I’ve planned!

©️ Ray Cohen, May 2023

Previous
Previous

Dimensional Modelling Rules, OK