While operational managers know what they need a database to produce and how the database should function, they may not be database design experts. Learning the basic concepts behind database design can bridge communication gaps between database developers and operational managers.

Reporting Specifications Helps to Determine Fields Needed

The best place for the operational manager to start is to mock up the reports that the database needs to produce. Mocking up or drafting the reports in MS Word or MS Excel helps developers to see how the information should be laid out when they are creating stock reports. Stock reports are reports that can be generated repeatedly over time with new additional data entry. The draft reports can also help the developer understand how to group the information in a user friendly way.