Summary
In this chapter, we have seen how a conceptual model and its accompanying diagram make it easy to visualize an organizational business model and validate it with domain experts against the intended business operations that it is meant to support.
To get started in conceptual modeling, we used Kimball’s DM methodology, which has been used for decades to guide the design of database and warehouse architectures. Kimball uses a four-step method to initiate discussions between the data team and business teams, and domain experts to identify the business processes that an organization engages in.
Once business processes have been identified, we determine their grain or lowest level of detail pertinent to our business. Describing the grain will also help us discover the core dimensions of our business. Plotting dimensions and business processes on a chart, known as the bus matrix, produces an elegant cross-section of our business and lets us transfer its details easily...