Tao of Business ObjectsCopyright © 1999 Patrick McDermott

UC BerkeleyExtension

pmcdermott@msn.com

Carlo Carrà (1881-1966)Rhythms of Objects, 1911

Precision vs. ClarityA Well-Designed Computer System requires

Precise definitions for all Business Objects

千里の道も一歩から Even a Journey of a Thousand Miles starts from

0.409332787556283 Step

—OR—

Even a Journey of 2,443.1398 Miles starts from One Step

The Matter of the Dogs in the Park“A little inaccuracy sometimes saves tons of

explanation”—Saki

The Sound ofOne Hand Clapping

Many modeling questions are like Zen koansWhen is a customer not a customer?When is an attribute not an attribute?How big is big?How Different is Different?

And, yes, even…

“What is the meaning of is”?Ito Jakuchu (1715-1800)Man, Dove & TempleDetail, ca. 1779

Conundra

Potential vs. ActualIs a prospect a customer?Is an applicant an employee?Is an embryo a person?

Over Time, HistoryIs a retiree an employee?Is an in-law a relative after a divorce?

There always is one, but you can’t know it– Safeway doesn’t know customer

• Unless Rewards cards

Jackson PollockThe Moon-Woman Cuts the Circle

1943

1 or Infinite?• When is it so different it’s different?• A Difference in Degree vs. Kind

• Every thing is a thing• Each thing is unique in its way

• Invoice vs. BL at APL…

Thing

*

*

B/L vs. Invoice

• Customers B/L: 2 or more Invoice: only 1

• Vessel? B/L: Yes Invoice: No

• Multiple #s? B/L: Yes Invoice: No

B/L #

Obligation

Customer Voyage

1

*

1..*

* *

0..1

:B/L #

:Obligation

:Customer :Voyage

1

*

1..*

* *

1

B/L Invoice

:Obligation

:Customer :Voyage

1

* *

0

What’s a Person?

Peopleness• “Legal Person”

– Person– Organization– Couple (IRS)

• Tracking company subsidiaries– If not independent purchaser

• Worker employee, contractor– Manager, IRS, HR see differently

Moulin de la GalettePierre-Auguste Renoir

c. 1876

Customer• Do You Know who it is?

– The Unknown customer at APL (biggest customer)

• Boeing Yes: Customer <==> Product• Safeway NO

– To Card or Not to Card: That is the Question– Reward Cards

• Others maybe• W/o address Person Organization

Is Contact

Customer(or Supplier)

VendorVendor: A supplier of goods or services(?)

– Government, IRS, Customs– Employee for travel expense, bonus, reward– Customer—overpay, refund, return– Petty Cash—no vendor– Anyone you pay

What’s a Product???– APL

• Every Commodity on every Port pair?– Cadillac

• With or w/o Options?– How Many Vital to Analysis

• You can’t count unless you know what they are

Recursion• Quaker Oats Box

– Morton Salt Girl

• Pepsi/Taco Bell• Employee supervises Employee• Bill of Materials: BOM

Remember

The best modeling technique:

The OneThat Works