I recently received an extensive set of post-workshop resources from the 3-day Business-Oriented Data Modelling Masterclass by Canadian data modelling expert Alec Sharp, which I attended in June.
I can highly recommend this intensive, interactive workshop to anyone working in data, business analysis, or solution architecture. The program combines the core content from two of Alec’s most popular offerings – Business-Oriented Data Modelling and Advanced Data Modelling – into a single, well-structured masterclass.
The course begins by introducing unique techniques for rapidly developing high-quality conceptual and logical data models while ensuring strong engagement from business stakeholders. From there, it progresses into advanced topics that frequently challenge even experienced professionals, including:
- Generalisation and specialisation – identifying common structures across diverse business concepts
- Recursion – representing hierarchical or networked relationships
- Subtyping – modelling categories and variations within core entities
- Time and history – handling temporal aspects of data and tracking changes
- Communication skills – presenting models clearly to non-technical audiences
- Bridging methods – connecting Entity-Relationship (E-R) modelling with dimensional modelling for analytics and BI contexts
What makes Alec’s approach stand out is his philosophy that a data model is a description of the business, not the database. This perspective reframes data modelling as a vital tool for business understanding and transformation, not just a technical artifact.
Alec Sharp is widely recognised as a thought leader in this field. He has more than four decades of international consulting experience, is a frequent keynote speaker at data and business conferences worldwide, and is the author of the best-selling book Workflow Modeling, considered a standard reference for business process professionals.
For me, the biggest takeaway was not just the technical techniques, but also the practical strategies for bringing business users into the modelling process in a collaborative, engaging way. It was an excellent mix of theory, practice, and professional wisdom gained from years in the field.
If you want to strengthen your ability to bridge the gap between business and technology, and to model complex realities in a way that both communities can understand, this masterclass is an outstanding investment.
Tip: Alec Sharp returns to the Netherlands (Utrecht) in November.
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