The rational unified process is one way, although it is largely overkill. There is an agile data process that is only slightly less cumbersome. http://www.drdo

The rational unified process is one way, although it is largely overkill. There is an agile data process that is only slightly less cumbersome. http://www.drdobbs.com/agile-data-modeling/184415164 http://www.drdobbs.com/agile-data-modeling/184415164 http://agiledata.org/essays/dataModeling101.html http://agiledata.org/essays/dataModeling101.html Just rip out whatever you don't need from either of those. Actors, stories and processes are the most effective place I know to start. Once those are lined out the data model becomes a lot more obvious.