Subject Area Modeling

A Subject Area Model, together with a Conceptual Model and a Conceptual Entity Model forms the complete structure of the Enterprise Data Model (EMD). Subject Area Modeling is the initial level of an Enterprise Data Model.

A Subject area model is a type of metadata that consists of numerous fact tables that are then referenced. Often, it is hard even for a larger team to design, develop and organize enterprise data, without breaking it into more manageable chunks; and the fundamental idea here is to “divide and conquer”.

Subject area modeling shapes the EDM using business subject areas rather than by data systems or applications. This type of modeling allows business users to more easily access relevant and related content upon which they can then build their insights.

A subject area refers to high-level organization of data representing a group of related concepts within a specific functional area of an organization.

In the general sense, assume the subject area as a room in a house. For example, a dining room contains items for dining (dining table, dining chairs, dish storage, silverware, place settings, décor, etc). Similarly, in the technical sense, tables of a specific application context are logically grouped to form a subject area.

Examples of subject areas include Accounts, Billing, Resources, Process and Financials. Going deeper, when the subject area “Accounts” is imported into an application, all the tables under it are also imported.

Considering the Accounts subject area, it can contain the account related tables (Accounts Payables or Accounts Receivables) under it.

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