OBJECT ROLE MODELING (ORM)
> What it does
ORM stands for Object Role Modeling previously known as NIAM or
IA/NIAM. NIAM is the acronym of Natural language Information Analysis Method, IA
is for Information Analysis. Since its first version almost 30 years ago, NIAM has c
hanged and is now known as ORM.
Object-Role Modeling (ORM) is essentially
a method for modeling an information system
at the conceptual level. It allows also to manage the mapping between the conceptual
and the logical levels, which make possible to generate physical schemas for Relational
database or other model of data storage. Although we think here , at softminders,
that the real and most interesting strength of ORM is its capability to model business
rules using natural language, it is interesting to know also that ORM can generate
Relational database schemas that can comply up to the 7th normal form!
> ORM Resources on the Net
There are plenty of resources about ORM on the net. especially since ORM is part
of the Visual Studio .Net Architect edition. There are also some
ORM free tools that can be downloaded; you can find more about them on
www.orm.net
the
resources page the orm.net website is the official site for conceptual modeling.
It is full of valuable information, documentation, papers, link, resources, news
etc... As far as the thool are concerned we particularly recommend the Plugin from
Microsoft that is bundled with the Visual Studio Architect edition and/or with Visio.
This ORM Visio plug-in can also be downloaded from the
orthogonal software website
>Success Stories
Gabriel de Fombelle, softminders founder, has a long and rich experience using the
NIAM/ORM method. Fombelle lead large information system analysis and database projects
using ORM, for major companies like Quebecor.Inc, Tectis group, or the Warner Music
Group. Sofminders uses ORM for all its new major projects essentially during the
“Inception” and “Design” stages of the projects. Softminders provides training,
coaching and consultancies in this area too.