The Role Removal Paradigm

The Role Removal Paradigm attempts to distinguish between things represented by data, and the various roles these things find themselves involved in. Multiple entity types are created from an original hybrid entity, allowing clearer independent optimization of both.

Rationale

Fundamental entities often represent tangible things in the real world.

Tangible things often serve many roles.

Real world things often refuse to abide by the arbitrary hierarchies we define.

Separating the fundamental thing from the atributive role adds value to the model.

Trigger

Existence of cardinality constraints that are unlikely to be enforceable against real world things described by the entity types over their entire life span.