First Principles of SaaS UX · CHAPTER 2 OF 7
Data, entities, and dependencies
Data In Enterprise Software

Users

Roles

Departments

Workflows



One User’s Data Drives the Next User’s Action
One person’s action can create the data another person needs to continue their work. This is where data dependency comes into play.
In enterprise software, data moves between:
One User’s Data Drives the Next User’s Action
One person’s action can create the data another person needs to continue their work. This is where data dependency comes into play.

Users

Roles

Departments

Workflows



In enterprise software, data moves between:
Example
Hospital Management
Example
Hospital Management

Multiple Roles
Departments
Pharmacy, Hospitals
Dependencies
Look at Hospital Management Software
A hospital works well as an example because it contains multiple roles, departments, objects, and dependencies. Yet the same first principle still applies: Every workflow is built around data and actions taken on that data.
Look at Hospital Management Software
A hospital works well as an example because it contains multiple roles, departments, objects, and dependencies. Yet the same first principle still applies: Every workflow is built around data and actions taken on that data.

Multiple Roles
Departments
Pharmacy, Hospitals
Dependencies

Hospital

Patient

Receptionist

Doctor

Nurse

Pharmacist

Pharmacy

Medicine

Software Contains Many Data Entities
Each Entity Has Different Data. Each has its own attributes and serves a different purpose in the workflow.
Software Contains Many Data Entities
Each Entity Has Different Data. Each has its own attributes and serves a different purpose in the workflow.

Hospital

Patient

Receptionist

Doctor

Nurse

Pharmacist

Pharmacy

Medicine

Data Is Not Limited to People
A hospital, pharmacy, or medicine also contains information that users rely on to complete actions.
For example,
A pharmacy may have a location, license number, and registration details, while a medicine may have dosage, batch number, expiry date, price, and stock.

Hospital

Pharmacy

Medicine

DATA
Data Is Not Limited to People
A hospital, pharmacy, or medicine also contains information that users rely on to complete actions.
For example, A pharmacy may have a location, license number, and registration details, while a medicine may have dosage, batch number, expiry date, price, and stock.

Hospital

Pharmacy

Medicine

DATA
Every Entity Has Its Own Data.
A patient contains attributes such as:
Name, Patient ID, Age, Gender, Phone Number, Email
Together, these attributes create the patient's data record.


First Name
Last Name
Patient Id
Age
Gender
Phone number
Address
Prescription Details

Every Entity Has Its Own Data.
A patient contains attributes such as:
Name, Patient ID, Age, Gender, Phone Number, Email
Together, these attributes create the patient's data record.


First Name
Last Name
Patient Id
Age
Gender
Phone number
Address
Prescription Details

How Data Builds Across the Workflow
A patient enters the hospital. The receptionist records basic details, then the nurse adds vitals, and the doctor uses this data to assess the patient and add a diagnosis or prescription.







A patient enters the hospital
The receptionist records basic details
The nurse adds
vitals
The doctor uses this data to assess the patient
How Data Builds Across the Workflow
A patient enters the hospital. The receptionist records basic details, then the nurse adds vitals, and the doctor uses this data to assess the patient and add a diagnosis or prescription.







A patient enters the hospital
The receptionist records basic details
The nurse adds
vitals
The doctor uses this data to assess the patient
This Is Data Dependency
One user's output becomes another user's input. This is a fundamental characteristic of enterprise software.
Receptionist

Adds Data
Nurse

Adds Data

Doctor
Adds Data

Pharmacist
This Is Data Dependency
One user's output becomes another user's input. This is a fundamental characteristic of enterprise software.
Receptionist

Adds Data
Nurse

Adds Data

Doctor
Adds Data

Pharmacist
Data Priority Changes By UserRole
Data Importance Depends on the User
- For a patient, their prescription may be extremely important.
- For a doctor, that prescription is only one part of their daily work. They may care more about: Today's patients, Upcoming consultations, Pending cases, Time
Doctor
Daily tasks
- Upcoming consultations
- Checking Patients
- Today’s patient list
- pending cases
- patient perscription

Patient
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Apedermin dexolite
Apedermin dexolite
Doctor prescrition
Name:
Age
Gender

Data Priority Changes By UserRole
Data Importance Depends on the User
- For a patient, their prescription may be extremely important.
- For a doctor, that prescription is only one part of their daily work. They may care more about: Today's patients, Upcoming consultations, Pending cases, Time
Doctor
Daily tasks
- Upcoming consultations
- Checking Patients
- Today’s patient list
- pending cases
- patient perscription

Patient
Apedermin dexolite
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Apedermin dexolite ck urite
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Apedermin dexolite
Apedermin dexolite
Doctor prescrition
Name:
Age
Gender

Why This Matters for UX

What appears on the screen

What gets priority

What actions are available

How navigation should be structured

What information connects across workflows
Understanding Each Role’s Data Helps Decide:
Without this understanding each user role’s data, the UI may look good but fail the actual workflow.
Why This Matters for UX
Without this understanding each user role’s data, the UI may look good but fail the actual workflow.
Understanding Each Role’s Data Helps Decide:

What appears on the screen

What gets priority

What actions are available

How navigation should be structured

What information connects across workflows