Forming and interacting with Master Data Management teams is interesting because the people tend to come from one of two worlds. While each world is legitimate, the best team will comprise the best of both worlds, if not in experience, at least in perspective.
These worlds I'm talking about are the post-operationally-minded information management professionals and the operational-systems-minded professionals.
On the one hand, MDM does comprise quite a bit of traditional information management - the data modeling, the data quality programs, the data profiling, the data integration - all familiar to builders of data warehousing.
On the other hand, MDM is operational and will interact in real-time, not batch, with other operational systems. MDM will utilize governed workflows to bring together its data and will need to be keenly aware of operational issues and operational data needs. Changing the data so suit analytics is not always best.
While the perspectives are not mutually exclusive, the skill gap to what is needed can be astounding if teams are formed, and therefore opinions of MDM formed, exclusively from one camp or the other. Make sure your MDM program achieves the right balance of skills and focus. Take inventory. This can be done through consulting and education, as well as conscious effort towards balance and achievement in both operational and post-operational issues.
Posted March 7, 2010 4:08 PM
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