While writing my last post on iterative design, I touched on naming entities in the model. I want to take just a few minutes to highlight some guidelines that I use for naming ...

• Do make the discussion about name choices a significant part of the model review process.
• Do not be afraid to use verbose names.
• Do involve user education and documentation experts early in the design process.
• Do search the web for other names and other meanings for the name that you select - just to educate yourself on alternatives and alternative interpretations.
• Do reserve the best names for the common scenarios. (For example, as noted in the last post, don’t use the name "computer" to refer to a hardware chassis for a computer.)
• Do ensure consistency in naming.
• Do assume that at least one person will be vehemently opposed to an entity or attribute name. Make the best naming choice possible, clearly explain the entity’s or attribute’s semantics and explain the name choice, and then move on.
• After following the above guideline, consider changing an entity or attribute name only when it is erroneous.

Hope that these help!

Andrea