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Back to the Data Model
Objectve : Create a Data Model for Postal Services
Our main source of information is the TNT Post Web Site.
Step 3. A Top-Down Approach -
We look for some kind of "Business Mission Statement" that can help us to derive a Top-Level view of the business.
We find this statement on the Web Site :-
"TNT Post is the Royal Mail's number one challenger for business mail of all kinds.
Whether we're handling your letters, packets and parcels or successfully managing your
unaddressed doordrop strategy, you'll find we're straight-talking people who get the job done.
Our can-do approach and our focus on efficiency make us different, saving you time and money.
We provide a high quality, full service concept for all your business mail and distribution needs.
Our portfolio is designed to deliver what you want. We are confident that we can meet your postal
service requirements and exceed your expectations, whatever the scale and scope of your enterprise.
Step 4. A Bottom-Up Approach -
When we review the Web Site, we find that one of the Services they offer is Tracking
Therefore we add Tracking to the Top-Level Data Model.
We also realise that we have Tracking in our Library of Subject Area Models, so we decicde to adapt
it to our specific Postal Services Requirements.
B. Barry says the Things of Interest are :-
1. Customers
2. Deliverables
3. Deliveries
4. Payments
5. Schedules
6. Services
7. Staff
8. Vehicles
Step 5. Define the Business Rules
Now that we have defined the 'Things of Interest' we can establish how they are related.
We call these the 'Business Data Rules' and then we review the with our Steering Group and modify them as required.
1. A Customer always signs one or more Contracts for Services.
2. Customers can post Deliverables in line with the terms of a Contract.
3. The Postal Company provides Services that deliver Deliverables according to the terms of a Contract.
Step 6. Identify the Reference Data
The Reference Data is important because it provides the Foundation for all the other Data.
© DataBase Answers Ltd. 2014
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