Chapter 3 : Thumb rules to define Entities
Do not detail the data Model before having built a complete Entity Model.
Start defining Static data (referential data like Actors, Organization, Products), then go to more dynamic data.
Define owner relations.
Prefer relations between instances of the same Entities rather than building new Entities.
Prefer a multi-status Entity rather than N Entities
Provide identifier for each Entity
Start with concrete Entities before abstract Entities
For international definitions, reuse same Entities
Start with Parent Entity before Child Entity
Manage Synonyms (Customer/Client, Contract/policy, ...)
Manage Homonyms
Do not mix inheritance (« is ») and relation (« has »)
Define relations with «creation process»
Do not mix Entities and Business rules
Split containers and contents
Check that existing data find a place in the new Entity Model