Data models and feelings
Yesterday a colleague said “How are you feeling?” in the elevator. My response was “Data model.” (I was in the midst of editing a data model.) “If you’re feeling anything while working on a data model, then something is wrong. “
Upon reflection, that is very true, at least for me.
If I’m enjoying the data modeling process a lot, I am probably making it too complex or too generalized for the business to understand.
If I’m feeling angry, there is probably some conflict going on within the project team, due to mismatched expectations or personalities.
If I’m feeling anxious, I may be struggling with difficult modeling choices. There may be a larger principle that needs deciding, such as the scope or purpose of the data model.
And if I’m feeling sad about some personal matter, I’ll probably make more modeling errors!
