Maximize the Value of Your Information Throughout Even the Most Complex IT Project Foreword by Tim Vincent, IBM Fellow and Vice President, CTO for IBM Analytics Group To drive maximum value from complex IT projects, IT professionals need a deep understanding of the information their projects will use. Too often, however, IT treats information as an afterthought: the “poor stepchild” behind applications and infrastructure. That needs to change. This book will help you change it. Five senior IBM architects show you how to use information-centric views to give data a central role in project design and delivery. Using Common Information Models (CIM), you learn how to standardize the way you represent information, making it easier to design, deploy, and evolve even the most complex systems. Using a complete case study, the authors explain what CIMs are, how to build them, and how to maintain them. You learn how to clarify the structure, meaning, and intent of any information you may exchange, and then use your CIM to improve integration, collaboration, and agility. In today’s mobile, cloud, and analytics environments, your information is more valuable than ever. To build systems that make the most of it, start right here. Coverage Includes • Mastering best practices for building and maintaining a CIM • Understanding CIM components and artifacts: scope, perspectives, and depth of detail • Choosing the right patterns for structuring your CIM • Integrating a CIM into broader governance • Using tools to manage your CIM more effectively • Recognizing the importance of non-functional characteristics, such as availability, performance, and security, in system design • Growing CIM value by expanding their scope and usage • Previewing the future of CIMs

Table of Contents:
Foreword by Tim Vincent xix Preface xx Chapter 1 Introduction 1 The Agile and Open World 1 GKDMR Travel 3 Adding Mobile Applications to the Enterprise 4 Social Computing 8 Insight Applications 9 Using Cloud Platforms 10 Security of Data 12 Summary 13 Chapter 2 Inside the Common Information Model 15 Introduction 15 Scope 16 Perspectives 17 Information Supply Chains 19 Model Types 20 Depth of Detail 22 A Comprehensive Common Information Model 23 Developing a Strategy 26 Summary 29 Chapter 3 Structural Patterns for the Common Information Model 31 Introduction 31 Common Information Model 33 Context 33 Problem 33 Example 34 Forces 34 Solution 35 Consequences 36 Example Resolved 37 Known Uses 38 Related Patterns 38 Concept Beads 39 Context 39 Problem 39 Example 39 Forces 40 Solution 40 Consequences 42 Example Resolved 43 Known Uses 45 Related Patterns 45 Continuous Fabric 45 Context 45 Problem 45 Example 46 Forces 46 Solution 46 Consequences 47 Example Resolved 48 Known Uses 48 Related Patterns 50 Encapsulated Views 50 Context 50 Problem 50 Example 51 Forces 51 Solution 51 Consequences 52 Example Resolved 54 Known Uses 54 Related Patterns 54 Unifying Context 54 Context 54 Problem 55 Example 55 Forces 55 Solution 55 Consequences 56 Example Resolved 57 Known Uses 58 Related Patterns 58 Combining the Patterns 58 Summary 59 Chapter 4 Modeling Best Practices 61 What Should Be in a Model? 61 Deciding on the Scope of a Model 62 Adopting Existing Models 63 Basic Modeling Skills 64 Leveling the Content 64 Standardizing Basic Types 65 Dealing with Variation 66 Dependent and Independent Behaviors 68 When to Use Inheritance 68 The Role Pattern 69 Designing for Consistency 70 Designing for Reuse 71 Designing for Extensibility 71 Linking Subject Areas 73 Tips for Modeling Interfaces 73 Specialized Definitions of the Same Concept 73 Context of a Request 75 Versioning of Interfaces 75 Tips on Modeling for a Repository 75 Removing Duplication—How Far Do You Go? 76 Storing Historical Information 77 Effectivity Dating 77 Modeling Unstructured Data 78 Physical Implementation Details 78 Summary 78 Chapter 5 Governance 81 Introduction 81 Governance Definitions 83 Governance Principles 84 Governance Policies 84 Governance Classification Schemes 85 Governance Standards 86 Governance Rules, Guidelines, and Patterns 87 Governance Process Definitions 87 Governance Metrics 87 Managing Change 87 Lifecycles of Governance 88 Governance Leadership 90 Governance Processes 92 Governance Roles 93 Everyday Decision Making 94 Measurement and Audit 96 Summary 96 Chapter 6 Moving Beyond the Hammer 99 Structuring and Maintaining Models 99 Configuration Management 100 Top-Down Configuration Management 102 Bottom-Up Configuration Management 102 Combining Approaches 103 Consuming Models and Related Artifacts 104 Managing Information Values 110 Quality Management 111 Reference Data Management 112 Summary 112 Chapter 7 System Characteristics 113 Introduction 113 Non-Functional Characteristics 114 Reviewing GKDMR Travel 116 Systems of Record 118 SoR Non-Functional Characteristics 119 CIM Implications for Systems of Record 120 Systems of Engagement 122 SoE Non-Functional Characteristics 123 CIM Implications for Systems of Engagement 124 Systems of Insight 126 SoI Non-Functional Characteristics 129 CIM Implications for Systems of Insight 131 Integration 132 Integration Requirements 134 CIM Implications for Integration 135 Summary 136 Chapter 8 Building Business Value 137 Complex Organizations 137 Points of View at GKDMR Travel 138 Adoption Maturity Model 140 Repeatable Adoption Level 141 Defined Adoption Level 141 Managed Adoption Level 143 Investing in the Common Information Model 145 Optimizing Adoption Level 146 APIs from Business Partners 149 Unstructured Data Feeds 150 Summary 151 Chapter 9 Real-World Deployment Study 153 The Background and the Industry 153 Project Hydra 154 The Common Information Model 157 Refining the TMF-SID into Services 158 Carving Up the TMF-SID 160 Validating Consistency 162 Extending the TMF-SID objects 162 Pruning the Service Structures 163 Implementing the Integration Layer 163 Tools and Governance 164 Results 165 Chapter 10 Looking Forward 167 Where We Have Come From 167 Common Information Models Today 168 Thoughts for the Future 169 Concluding Remarks from the Authors 170 Appendix A Industry Standards 171 Telecommunications Models 171 Finance Models 172 Utilities Industry 172 Appendix B Non-Functional Behavior 173 Reliability and Availability 173 Performance Efficiency: Time Behavior Requirement 175 Performance Efficiency: Resource Utilization, Capacity Requirement 176 Compatibility Requirement 177 Maintainability Requirement 177 Security Requirement 178 Summary 179 Further Reading 181 Glossary 183 Index 195