Data Modeling II: Standard Data Model & Examples – SS2 Data Processing Lesson Note (First Term)

A standard data model, also called an industry standard data model (ISDM), is a data model that is widely applied in some industries and shared among competitors to some degree. It is usually defined by standard bodies or vendors. Organisations that use it share a vocabulary and agreed formats, so they share information more easily and quickly.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• state the importance of a data model;
• define a standard data model;
• name the industries where the most effective standard models have been developed;
• explain why standard data models make information sharing easier;
• give examples of standard data models.

Why is a data model important?

1. The data model is a great communication tool because it helps designers, programmers and end-users to interact and communicate. In essence, it does not allow one party’s bias towards a certain view of data (whether they consider it to be most important) to take hold.
2. A well-developed data model can even improve understanding of the organisation for which the database design is developed.
3. Data models help in structuring and organising data. These data structures are then typically implemented in a database management system, which is used mostly by an organisation for decision making.
4. In addition to defining and organising the data, data modelling will impose (implicitly or explicitly) constraints or limitations on the data placed within the structure.

What is a standard data model?

A standard data model or industry standard data model (ISDM) is a data model that is widely applied in some industries and shared among competitors to some degree. Standard bodies, database vendors or operating system vendors often define these models. The most effective standard models have been developed in the banking, insurance, pharmaceutical and automotive industries, to reflect the stringent standards applied to customer information gathering, customer privacy, customer safety, or just-in-time manufacturing.

Standard data models enable easier and faster information sharing because different kinds of organisations have a standard vocabulary and pre-negotiated semantics, format and quality standards for exchanged data.

What are examples of standard data models?

1. ISO 10303: an ISO standard for the computer-interpretable representation and exchange of product manufacturing information.
2. ISO 15926: a standard for data integration, sharing, exchange and hand-over between computer systems.
3. IDEAS Group: the International Defence Enterprise Architecture Specification for exchange Group. The deliverable of the project is a data exchange format for military Enterprise Architecture.

Evaluation

1. What is a standard data model?
2. Name the four industries in which the most effective standard models have been developed.
3. Give two reasons why a data model is important.
4. Why do standard data models make information sharing easier?
5. What is ISO 10303 used for?

Assignment

List the three examples of standard data models given in this lesson and state in one sentence what each one is used for.