Designing a Semantic Model
The self-service, low-code nature of Power BI tools and services lend themselves to rapid, agile development in which significant data insights can be obtained quickly despite both imperfect data sources and an incomplete understanding of business requirements and use cases. However, rushing through the design phase can undermine the sustainability of the solution, as future needs cannot be met without structural revisions to the model or complex workarounds. A balanced design phase in which fundamental decisions, such as DirectQuery versus in-memory, are analyzed, while simultaneously using a limited prototype model to generate visualizations and business feedback can address both short- and long-term needs.
This recipe describes a process for designing a semantic model and identifies some of the primary questions and factors to consider while doing so.
Getting ready
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