Information Systems, Databases, and Models › Data Modeling Sessions › Session Roles

Session Roles

Formal, guided sessions, with defined roles for participants and agreed upon procedures and rules, are an absolute requirement. The following roles work well:

Facilitator

Acts as the session guide. This person is responsible for arranging the meetings and facilities, providing follow-up documentation, and intervening during sessions, as necessary, to keep sessions on track and to control the scope of the session.

Data Modeler

Leads the group through the process of developing and validating the model. The modeler develops the model, in real time if possible, in front of the group by asking pertinent questions that bring out the important details and recording the resulting structure for all to see. It is often possible (although somewhat difficult) for the same individual to play both facilitator and data modeler roles.

Data Analyst

Acts as the scribe for the session and records the definitions of all the entities and attributes that make up the model. Based on information from the business experts, the data analyst can also begin to package entities and attributes into subject areas, manageable and meaningful subsets of the complete data model.

Subject Matter Expert

Provides the business information needed to construct the model. You can have more than one subject matter experts. They are business experts, not systems experts.

Manager

Participates in the sessions in an assigned role (facilitator, subject matter expert, and so on) but has the additional responsibility of making decisions as needed to keep the process moving. The manager has the responsibility of “breaking ties” but only when absolutely necessary. The manager can be from either the systems or business community.