[Sigia-l] cross-reference/thesaraus -type question

[Lyle Kantrovich]

On 12/15/05, Listera <listera at rcn.com> wrote:
> This may or may not be complicated to *you* but that's what a DBA learns in
> DB architecture 101. I challenge you to demonstrate what's NOT trivial (at
> the worst) about a many-to-many mapping.
>
> This says nothing about what the difficulty may be in establishing the
> *semantic* nature of the relationship between various lists/taxonomies/etc.
> But once that's done by an IA, as I indicated, the *implementation* of it DB
> terms is trivial. Let me repeat that, it would be trivial, *for a DBA or a
> data architect*. If your DBA experience has shown you otherwise, in the
> narrow sense of record matching, do share.

When someone says they'd like help to "understand how best to
implement the cross-referencing of headings", I don't assume they are
looking for statements about how easy it'll be for a DBA to do their
job.  It seems to me that what Frank was looking for from an IA list
was advice on the IA activities related to his project.  Maybe I
assume too much.

So I'm sorry, please continue telling us more about how easy it'll be
for the DBA.  Any thoughts on how simple the project will be to
manage?  How about requirements gathering...should they hire an intern
or outsource it?

...BACK TO Frank's IA/taxonomy/thesaurus question:
I checked my bookmarks and found something that might help you out. 
You might read Amy Warner's Taxonomy Primer found here:
http://www.lexonomy.com/publications/aTaxonomyPrimer.html

She's exactly the kind of person I'd call to chat with about the kind
of project you're looking at.  (Note, I've never met or talked to Amy,
and don't know much about her other that what her site tells us...but
she's obviously skilled in this area.)

Anyone else know of any taxonomists or IAs with deep expertise in such things?


PLUG: Buy my book, Cost-Justifying Sarcasm

Lyle