

John Giles - The Data Elephant in the Board Room, Data Modeling, and More
12 snips May 6, 2025
John Giles, author of "The Data Elephant in the Board Room" and IT expert, dives into the world of data modeling and management. He discusses the limitations of legacy tools and introduces Ellie.ai as a modern solution. Using town planning as a metaphor, he argues for collaboration between business and tech teams. He emphasizes the importance of structured data foundations and the innovation necessary in engineering practices. He also shares insights from his writing journey and the evolving role of AI in creativity and data strategies.
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Shift in Data Modeling Scope
- Data modeling has evolved from application-specific to encompassing enterprise-wide perspectives.
- Balancing big-picture planning with detailed engineering is key to effective data architecture.
Use Patterns to Engage Business
- Use familiar patterns like party-role, geospatial location, and workflow to engage business stakeholders.
- Translate technical patterns into business terms for better collaboration and understanding.
Conceptual Models as Town Plans
- Conceptual data models serve as town plans providing a high-level overview with room for detail.
- Business engagement through patterns helps align vision and technical implementation efficiently.