Turning dirty data words into sweet talk
Have you been talking dirty to your developers? I am not talking about the four-lettered profanity. I am talking about the lightning words that ignite emotions and actions by their very presence....
View ArticleNo one really understands what I do
I often hear from my peers that no one really understands what they do. That is usually accompanied by the “no one really appreciates what I do” comment. It is something that is not so unique to data...
View Article7 misconceptions about data architects
Chances are that if you work in a technical job most people don’t know what you do. There is a good chance that other technical people are similarly clueless. It is a sad reality to deal with if you...
View ArticleFive things you may think you are not doing
It’s easy to fall into a comfortable repeatable work life. It is ingrained in my work philosophy to structure, standardize, componentize and reuse as much as possible. That seems a logical thought...
View ArticleIf I only knew then what I know now
I see myself as a pretty forward thinking person. It doesn’t mean that I don’t think about the past. My life experiences have taught me valuable lessons. The occasional flashback to the past is a good...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The shift of the data architect’s paradigm
If you want small changes in your life, work on your attitude. But if you want big and primary changes, work on your paradigm.– Stephen Covey Reflecting back on last week’s Enterprise Data World, the...
View Article10 Random questions on Tom’s mind
I keep my eyes open for things that pertain to the data world. I jot them down in a list of possible blog topics. This morning I took a look at the ever-growing list and decided to take ten items and...
View ArticleBeyond the anatomy of a definition
Each of us has parts of our job that we like more than other job duties. Metadata happens to top my list of likes. I see myself as a pretty thorough documenter of model objects. Definitions are the...
View ArticleThoughts on the evolving role of data architects
The evolution of data over my career fascinates me. The volume of data continues to increase exponentially. Data is becoming more accessible to more diverse audiences. Data has moved to the forefront...
View Article6 tips on working with the non-data modeler
“I am supposed to use this fact table but can’t find any documentation on what it is.” I heard this eye opener over the cubicle wall. It is pretty disappointing from my data architect perspective. I...
View ArticleThe data modeling identity crisis
I have had an identity crisis for years. My resume is a trail of analyst, modeler, architect, engineer, designer job titles. A person unfamiliar with the data community would deduce that I am one...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The strategy of hoarding pens and data
This morning my page-a-day calendar asked me to draw something that makes me happy. It was cold and snowy outside. I had a few minutes. I was thinking of warmer days. My inner creative self took on the...
View Article3 data modeling myths busted
Mythbusters fascinates me. Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman build a lot of cannons. I’ve seen ice cannons, duct tape cannons, and many more. People love to see objects spewed out a firing cannon. Perhaps...
View ArticleHard data management
Data management is hard. Don’t let any vendor tell you they have tools that will set you free to life on a beach while your data program magically runs itself. Tools can automate pieces of your data...
View ArticleHard Metadata Management
I cringe when I hear “metadata is data about data”. It is true at a high level, but the reality is that metadata is much more compressive than that. It is hard. In my last two posts, I spoke about hard...
View ArticleWhat I learned as a data architect
One of the things I like most about data is the challenges that it presents. From my early school days, I have loved math, analyzing everyday things, and finding creative solutions. I love and thrive...
View Article5 Challenges of Data Lineage
The concept of data lineage is not new. In the early data processing days, it took the shape of flowcharts and data flow diagrams. With the advent of Microsoft Excel, it manifested itself in...
View Article
