A data model (or at least a conceptual entity/relationship model) is a description of the semantics of the business. The notation chosen is a specific language for representing the things of significance to the business, their attributes, and relationships between them. The notation is very effective at representing structure, but is limited in its ability to represent business rules and other constraints. It is good for presentation purposes, but cannot be operated on electronically.

RDF and OWL are also languages for representing the semantics of a business. They are not as accessible to the casual observer, but they are more rigorous and extensive in what they can describe. Also, the descriptions encoded in these languages can be operated on by automated retrieval and analysis processes. This presentation will take a business model and show how it could be rendered in each of these languages, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each