This is a description of a General Approach to the design of a CRM Data Architecture.
The Approach is defined as a series of Steps,with associated Background comments, some
clearly-defined Deliverables,and some sample Template Documents are being prepared to be used
in the application of the Approach to a specific Project.
The General Approach is based on
three Levels of Design :-
The Logical Level
The Physical Level
The Implementation Level
Each Level is specified in three Stages :-
Stage 1 : Design the Logical Level (Background).
- Create a Data Dictionary with an Inventory of the Applications,
(Example as HTML Page ,
Template Word Document).
- Agree the Owners for the Data Sources and the major Data Items.
- Obtain Data Models from the Application Vendors
(Template CRM Vendors Data Model).
- Create first draft of the Top-Level Data Architecture,
(Background,
Example of Diagram
,Example of Data Model).
- Create Data Models for the Functions and Data Islands,e.g. Personalization,
(Background
,Template Model).
- Design the Integrated Normalised Data Model,
(Background)
- Review the Data Dictionary, (Background,
Template Word Document).
Stage 2 : Design the Physical Level (Background).
- Define the Data Islands and their Interfaces,(Background)
- Produce a CRUD Matrix,
(Background,
Template)
- Create Data Flow Diagrams
- Translate UML Model to Entity-Relationship Diagram,(Background)
- Agree User Scenarios, (Background,
Template).
Stage 3 : Design the Implementation Level for a Pilot Project
(Background)
- Choose Tools for Data Migration,
(Background)
- Carry out a Design Review.
- Produce Database Sizing Estimates, (Background).
- Agree Terms of Reference for the Pilot.
- Agree Conditions for Success for the Pilot.
