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GUiDe Immanuel Kant, Data Modeler

the way that counts.” Second, in times of disagreement we think the model under construction is a weird way of view- 227
must ask the question, “How well does the data model fit the ing the world, but that is not the point. The only valid point
mental models of the people who are going to use the sys- is whether it reflects how the users view their world. Will it
tem?” The person who is constructing the data model may enable the users to do their jobs?

DiSCUSSion QUeStionS

1. What does a data model represent? 4. In your own words, how should you proceed when
2. Explain why it is easy for humans to confuse the phe- two people disagree on what is to be included in a data
nomenal world with the noumenal world. model?
3. If someone were to say to you, “My model is a better
model of the real world,” how would you respond?