My colleague, Bill O’Kane, has just published his first piece of research! Bill joined us a few months ago and becomes the newest member of our team focused on Master Data Management. He has hit the ground running with, “Evaluation Criteria for MDM Vendor Data Model Styles”. Bill had recent experience with implementing MDM technologies and his experience comes out in this foundation note that looks at the different approaches vendor offer in terms of the data model. Some vendors bring and recommended pre configured data models, perhaps around a business scenario or industry model; some vendors focus on flexibility with “build as you go” perspectives. The wide range of options is explored in the note, along with the pros and cons. The data domain (and resulting data model) is one of the five vectors of complexity that dictate your MDM strategy.
I should also mention that John Radcliffe, our other partner-in-crime in MDM land, also published some new material on a related vectors – that of usage-case. In fact John figured out a neat way to relate two specific operational use-cases, he calls them usage-patterns. In both cases, “transactional” and “workflow” (or collaborative) are in fact two specific types of operational MDM usage patterns. John nicely describes them (Different Approaches or Usage Patterns for MDM and Their Implications) and highlights the differences, and similarities, between them, and talks about where they are most appropriate. The narrower master data model is what gives you the chance to get information governance stood up (small is easier to get started) and the broader metadata model helps track more complex and later requirements. Both are in fact required to be successful, long term, with enterprise wide information governance. John is wrapping up work now on our annual update to the Hype Cycle for MDM.
Michael Blechar, a regular speaker at our annual MDM Summits, also updated and refreshed a bunch of research on a closely related topic, and one that is proving to provide a rich seam along which to provide additional value to users – that of metadata management and MDM. One of them, “Metadata Management is Critical to MDM’s Long-Term Success”, highlights an idea I have blogged on previously- that of aligning a minimalist master data model with a maximalist metadata model.
Lastly, I too recently published a tome: Scoping an Effective MDM Governance Framework. I am hoping the title describes the note. My next piece focused on the implementation styles of MDM and later, the newly emerging data stewardship applications beginning to emerge.
Enjoy.
