Hi Tom, > Ramesh, > > >So now the challenge with the development teams is teaching them > relational design and why we design a database >the way we do. Their > approach is a flat-table design. Constant discussions about how to store > something as simple >as a name and address. > > Exactly my experience - kind of like do we NEED a data model and / or a > data modeler for this project? We have a very good Object model and then we > have Hibernate - why do we need a data model for this is generally what I > got to hear on a couple of projects - don't know if this is the right trend > or not. I am yet to finish through the Helsinki approach that Toon had > mentioned in a reply to this thread. > Regards, Ramesh.