Scope
Within an overarching framework, the conceptual data models (CDM) identify and represent the critical information assets required to support the enterprise and/or specific business processes and provide a common nomenclature for describing data in “as is” and “to be” enterprise and/or business specific architecture artifacts. The purpose of the CDM is to provide a conceptual view the key data entities and their relationships that support NIH’s mission.
NIH has developed conceptual data models for:
- Enterprise CDM – depiction of structured representation and high level taxonomy organizing all of NIH’s data assets into groups and rules. This high-level presentation allows NIH management and stakeholders to effectively understand the current state of the data architecture and to plan for a future state data architecture that will enhance NIH’s ability to share information across the enterprise and build more integrated, flexible systems.
- Grants CDM – The Grants CDM provides an overview of the Grants business segment which provides a common taxonomy for categorizing data to support the administration of extramural research across NIH and facilitate planning for future systems development.
- Contracts CDM – under consideration in FY2008.
Expected Value
Conceptual data models provide a representation of critical information assets that allow stakeholders to plan for future data-centric initiatives that enhance NIH’s ability to share information across the enterprise, gain a better understanding of managing data and ensuring data quality, and to build more integrated and flexible systems.
CDMs also provide the starting point for more detailed logical and physical models and implementation standards that codify the business rules that need to be reflected in detailed system designs and provide a better understanding of data implications of evolving business processes and systems.
2008 1st Quarter
Since the completion of the business road shows on providing an overview of the Grants model as much as gaining knowledge from extramural research grants subject matter experts, the Grants CDM continues to be updated with comments received to date. The updated Grants CDM is set to be published in mid Quarter 1 of FY08 and will be open for additional comments.
2008 2nd Quarter
The Grant CDM will be presented to the ARB for approval as an NIH standard.
As the business process models for Contracts evolves, the Information Architecture team will be engaged to capture the critical data assets as related to the Contracts.
2008 3rd Quarter
As the additional information and knowledge is gained on Contracts, the Information team will continue to evolve the Contract conceptual data model.
2008 4th Quarter
As the additional information and knowledge is gained on Contracts, the Information team will continue to evolve the Contract conceptual data model.
