Skip to main content

The Role of a BI Professional: Understanding Data Modeling,Types of Data Systems,Differentiating Structured and Unstructured Data

 Section 1: Understanding Data Modeling

Data modeling is the process of creating a visual representation of an entire information system or its components, establishing connections between data points and structures. Its goal is to illustrate the types of data used and stored within the system, their relationships, grouping and organization methods, as well as their formats and attributes. By modeling data, businesses can gain valuable insights and facilitate effective decision-making processes.

Section 2: Types of Data Systems Data systems consist of source systems, where data is imported and exposed, and target databases, where data is acted upon. Examples of source systems include data lakes, which store large amounts of raw data in their original format until needed, and OLTP (Online Transaction Processing) databases optimized for data processing. Target systems, on the other hand, may include data marts (subject-oriented databases that can be subsets of larger data warehouses) and OLAP (Online Analytical Processing) databases, designed for analysis and capable of querying data from multiple sources. Understanding these systems is vital for effective data modeling.

Section 3: The Role of a BI Professional In the realm of Business Intelligence (BI), professionals are responsible for creating the target database model. Their role encompasses organizing systems, tools, and storage, including the design of how data is structured and stored. These foundational systems play a crucial role in key BI processes and serve as a basis for building subsequent tools and functionalities. As such, a solid understanding of data modeling is essential for BI professionals.

Section 4: Differentiating Structured and Unstructured Data

Data can be broadly categorized as structured or unstructured. Structured data is organized in easily identifiable formats, such as rows and columns, making it readily accessible and analyzable. Unstructured data, on the other hand, lacks a predefined structure, making it challenging to organize and analyze. Recognizing the distinction between these data types is vital when designing data models to ensure efficient storage and retrieval of information.

Section 5: Techniques and Tools for Data Modeling Various techniques and tools are available to create data models and support the data modeling process. These have evolved over time with advancements in database concepts and data management. Some popular data modeling techniques include hierarchical modeling, which represents data relationships in a tree-like structure, and entity-relationship modeling, which focuses on entities, relationships, attributes, and domains. Additionally, tools like erwin Data Modeler and Power BI can provide valuable support in designing and visualizing data models

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Unlocking South America's Data Potential: Trends, Challenges, and Strategic Opportunities for 2025

  Introduction South America is entering a pivotal phase in its digital and economic transformation. With countries like Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina investing heavily in data infrastructure, analytics, and digital governance, the region presents both challenges and opportunities for professionals working in Business Intelligence (BI), Data Analysis, and IT Project Management. This post explores the key data trends shaping South America in 2025, backed by insights from the World Bank, OECD, and Statista. It’s designed for analysts, project managers, and decision-makers who want to understand the region’s evolving landscape and how to position themselves for impact. 1. Economic Outlook: A Region in Transition According to the World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects 2025 , Latin America is expected to experience slower growth compared to global averages, with GDP expansion constrained by trade tensions and policy uncertainty. Brazil and Mexico remain the largest economies, with proj...

“Alive and Dead?”

 Schrödinger’s Cat, Quantum Superposition, and the Measurement Problem 1. A Thought-Experiment with Nine Lives In 1935, Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger devised a theatrical setup to spotlight how bizarre quantum rules look when scaled up to everyday objects[ 1 ]. A sealed steel box contains: a single radioactive atom with a 50 % chance to decay in one hour, a Geiger counter wired to a hammer, a vial of lethal cyanide, an unsuspecting cat. If the atom decays, the counter trips, the hammer smashes the vial, and the cat dies; if not, the cat survives. Quantum mechanics says the atom is in a superposition of “decayed” and “not-decayed,” so—by entanglement—the whole apparatus, cat included, must be in a superposition of ‘alive’ and ‘dead’ until an observer opens the box[ 1 ][ 2 ]. Schrödinger wasn’t condemning tabbies; he was mocking the idea that microscopic indeterminacy automatically balloons into macroscopic absurdity. 2. Superposition 101 The principle: if a quantum syste...

5 Essential Power BI Dashboards Every Data Analyst Should Know

In today’s data-driven world, Power BI has become one of the most powerful tools for data analysts and business intelligence professionals. Here are five essential Power BI dashboards every data analyst should know how to build and interpret. ## 1. Sales Dashboard Track sales performance in real-time, including: - Revenue by region - Monthly trends - Year-over-year comparison 💡 Use case: Sales teams, area managers --- ## 2. Marketing Dashboard Monitor marketing campaign effectiveness with: - Cost per click (CPC) - Conversion rate - Traffic sources 💡 Use case: Digital marketing teams --- ## 3. Human Resources (HR) Dashboard Get insights into: - Absenteeism rate - Average employee age - Department-level performance 💡 Use case: HR departments, business partners --- ## 4. Financial Dashboard Keep financial KPIs under control: - Gross operating margin (EBITDA) - Monthly cash inflow/outflow - Profitability ratios 💡 Use case: Finance and accounting teams --- ## 5. Customer Dashboard Segme...