Issues Forum: Keeping Data Modeling Relevant Today

Data Modeling started 30 years ago with its roots firmly in the DBMS world - but in the intervening 3 decades the World has moved on. Today's business systems landscape isn't just about developing "new" DBMS-based systems. The IT portfolio contains a variety of new components such as ERP packages, BI systems, mashups, portals, SOA and XML message-based systems. Is DATA important in these systems - you bet! Has modeling moved on to cater for these? Well, that's what this panel is about!

Chris Bradley will lead this conversation among experts as they tackle questions of how and when to bring data modeling into your systems and application development projects. Wat's different about these new technologies and architectures that data modeling needs to adapt to? And how do can we leverage our existing data models for these new applications?

Christopher Bradley has spent over 27 years in the data management field, working for several blue-chip organizations in data management strategy, MDM, metadata management, data warehouse and business intelligence implementations. His first degree was in Chemical Engineering & later he obtained his MBA. Mr. Bradley’s post academic career started for the UK Ministry of Defence where he worked on several major naval database systems and on the development of the ICL Data Dictionary System (DDS). His career included Volvo as lead data base architect, Thorn EMI as Head of Data Management, Readers Digest Inc as European CIO, and Coopers and Lybrand’s Management Consultancy where he established and ran the international Data Management specialist practice. During this time he worked upon and led many major international assignments including data management strategies, data warehouse implementations and establishment of data governance structures. Currently, Mr. Bradley heads the Information Management practice at IPL, a UK based consultancy and has been working exclusively for the last 3 years with a British HQ’d super major energy company. Within their Enterprise Architecture group, he has established Data Modeling as a Service & has been developing a group-wide Data Management strategy to ensure that common business practices and use of master data and models are promoted throughout the group. These have involved establishing a data management framework, evangelizing the message to management world wide, developing governance and new business processes for Data Management and developing and delivering training. Chris is a member of the Meta Data Professionals Organization (MPO) and DAMA.