Data Modeling: Don't Let Output Dictate your Design

I often talk about "database layer" versus "presentation" layer, but even the within just the database layer it is important to understand that how the data is physically stored does not always have to correlate with how the database returns results. There is still room for your SQL statements to use Views, Stored Procedures and User-Defined Functions to occasionally transform your well designed, clean normalized data into something that is easier for reporting tools to consume -- especially if those tools are used by clients who don't have strong skills.