It is also the repository of common definitions and terms. It is the statement of how the organization wishes to do business and define data. The Enterprise Data Model serves as a global view of the suitability of software packages and integrated systems. Data models can be used to convey requirements to developers, designers or 3rd party organizations. When time is of the essence and many people of various levels of skills are involved, data models are essential to communicating what data is required to support integrated planning and design.
Data models are very time-consuming to develop.
They are time-consuming because basic analysis must be performed such as the analysis of Order, Customer, Market, Channel and so on. This type of analysis could be obtained from 'template' models and edited to meet specific requirements. An 'enterprise-wide' model takes one year or more to develop. Subject area models typically take 3-6 months or more. Decision Support models require six months to 1 year to develop Data Warehouse models require a minimum of 1 year to develop It is not unusual for comprehensive modeling projects to cost millions of dollars.