Ask the Experts

Ask the Experts

MDM best practices

• What do we need to optimize our MDM strategy?

  Companies in all industries can benefit from a master data management program, advises MDM expert Anne Marie Smith. Learn how to enhance yours.  Continue Reading

• How metadata management relates to data governance and MDM

  Why is metadata management important? Because without it, you couldn't have a successful data governance or master data management program, explains governance expert Anne Marie Smith.  Continue Reading

• Five steps to implementing an MDM program

  Instituting a master data management program involves discovery, analysis, construction, implementation and sustainment processes, according to MDM expert Anne Marie Smith.  Continue Reading

• How to combine MDM projects and BI programs -- and boost their ROI

  Combining master data management projects and business intelligence programs can provide business value -- if the architecture is there to support it, says expert Anne Marie Smith.  Continue Reading

• Integrate data quality into your master data management strategy

  When implementing an MDM initiative, businesses should take steps to incorporate effective data quality management practices from the outset.  Continue Reading

• Priming a master data management strategy for success

  Organizations should meet a few key program development goals prior to implementing an MDM initiative, according to MDM expert Anne Marie Smith.  Continue Reading

• Gaining business support for your MDM initiative

  Highlighting the benefits of an MDM program from both technical and business perspectives is essential to gaining support for funding.  Continue Reading

• The state of enterprise information management technology use in 2011

  Get expert insight on whether there likely will be any strategic shifts during 2011 in how companies use enterprise information management technology.  Continue Reading

• Common enterprise information management strategy mistakes to avoid

  Learn about four common mistakes that companies make when creating an enterprise information management strategy and starting an EIM program.  Continue Reading

• Do you need to gather business requirements for MDM projects?

  Do you need to gather business requirements for an MDM project? Find out and learn how functional requirements are the key difference between the MDM and BI development processes.  Continue Reading

• What are the most common MDM project pitfalls to avoid?

  Learn about the most common master data management (MDM) project pitfalls that companies run into. Get a list of the major problems that can hold back an MDM program.  Continue Reading

• What’s the best way to conduct an MDM implementation?

  Is it better for companies to go with an enterprise-wide master data management (MDM) implementation or deploy MDM departmentally? Find out which approach our MDM expert prefers.  Continue Reading

• What ever happened to PIM and CDI software?

  There’s a lot of talk about master data management but not so much about CDI and PIM. Find out what happened to those MDM-related technologies.  Continue Reading

• How enterprise information management (EIM) differs from ECM

  Learn how enterprise information management (EIM) differs from enterprise content management (ECM) and unstructured data management as a data management technology category.  Continue Reading

• Key steps for developing an enterprise information management strategy

  Here you’ll find 12 expert tips on developing an enterprise information management strategy and roadmap for your company. Use the EIM strategy development advice to get started.  Continue Reading

• Key components of enterprise information management programs

  Learn which three components of enterprise information management programs are most important for a successful EIM strategy.  Continue Reading

• How to include data governance in an MDM development process

  Learn how to include data policies and data governance in a master data management (MDM) development process even if your company doesn’t want to fund data governance.  Continue Reading

• Should pharmaceutical companies invest in MDM services and software?

  Find out if pharmaceutical companies should invest in MDM services and MDM software and how health science companies should manage their MDM programs.  Continue Reading

• Tips for managing system and data sprawl issues

  Learn how to manage system and data sprawl issues with tips from our MDM expert, including designing a conceptual data model and developing an MDM roadmap.  Continue Reading

• Is linking master data and transactional data a growing MDM trend?

  Find out if linking master data and transactional data is a growing master data management (MDM) trend, and see what our MDM expert thinks of so-called MDM Lite solutions.  Continue Reading

• What are some key decentralized data storage issues?

  Learn some common key decentralized data storage issues and how a master data management (MDM) hub can help.  Continue Reading

• Public-sector case studies: Building a strong MDM business case

  How are government agencies implementing MDM and CDI? Learn about some public-sector case studies and why you should design a strong MDM business case.  Continue Reading

• Ensuring referential integrity in an MDM hub, transactional database

  Can you ensure referential integrity between an MDM hub and a transactional database? Get an expert's take on referential integrity in data warehousing and learn how an MDM hub works with data.  Continue Reading

• What exactly is data governance and what falls under this category?

  What is data governance? Read an expert's definition of data governance and find out what falls under data governance's domain.  Continue Reading

• Six criteria for master data management (MDM) tool evaluation

  Starting to evaluate MDM tools and software? Know what six areas you should look at to make sure you choose the best vendor and tool for your business needs.  Continue Reading

• What's the cost of developing PIM software internally vs. externally?

  Find out the cost of developing PIM software internally compared to externally and other important factors you should consider when implementing PIM tools.  Continue Reading

• Is it better to have a centralized or decentralized master data structure?

  Should your master data be centralized or decentralized? Get an expert's take, plus find out how different MDM architecture styles affect your master data and MDM hub.  Continue Reading

• Keys to planning an enterprise information management (EIM) initiative

  Make sure you know the key factors for an effective enterprise information management initiative. Learn the primary benefit of an EIM system and how EIM can keep information secure.  Continue Reading

• What is the role of data quality tools in MDM?

  Learn what data quality tools do and find out the role data quality tools play in master data management (MDM) software and MDM solutions in this tip from an MDM expert.  Continue Reading

• How important are the different styles of MDM architecture?

  Learn how to compare different MDM architecture and learn about strengths and weaknesses of different styles such as persistent MDM hubs. Also discover how to communicate the value of MDM architecture to business users.  Continue Reading

• Four must-have master data management project skills

  There are four important master data management project skills needed for MDM projects and development efforts. Discover what they are and learn about MDM job roles and responsibilities in this tip.  Continue Reading

• How to get MDM pricing from a third-party before evaluating MDM vendors

  Find out how to get master data management (MDM) pricing and independent cost estimates on MDM software and products. Learn how to create an MDM vendor shortlist with advice from an MDM expert.  Continue Reading

• What are the advantages/disadvantages of database abstraction layers?

  Discover the advantages and disadvantages of using database abstraction layers, as opposed to database-specific coding, and learn why abstraction layers offer maximum flexibility.  Continue Reading

• Designing the MDM team for an SAP MDM implementation project

  Get tips for creating an MDM team for an SAP MDM implementation project, including how to staff positions like MDM project managers, MDM administrators and developers, in this Q/A.  Continue Reading

• Tips for the MDM evaluation process and vendor selection

  Discover tips for the MDM evaluation process, including how to evaluate data warehouse vendors vs. more general-purpose MDM vendors, in this Q/A.  Continue Reading

• How to complete the MDM requirements-gathering analysis process

  Learn why it is important to complete the MDM requirements-gathering analysis process before evaluating MDM vendors -- and how to involve end users in the discussion.  Continue Reading

• What's the difference between SOA and Web services?

  How are Web services and service oriented architecture (SOA) different? Find out in this expert response.  Continue Reading

• How to calculate MDM ROI using business problems

  To calculate the return on investment (ROI) for master data management (MDM) systems, focus on the business problem, according to Jill Dyché.  Continue Reading

• Who should manage a master data management (MDM) software implementation?

  Determining who should manage a master data management (MDM) software implementation can be tough. Find out how to approach an MDM implementation, from an expert.  Continue Reading

• Three master data management trends

  Learn three master data management (MDM) trends that could affect your MDM strategy and implementation.  Continue Reading

• SOA starts with the data

  Even though SOA is about offering standardized business processes as services, the concept of data as a service is actually more viable for companies just beginning to think about SOA. If you're thinking about an SOA, our expert says start with the ...  Continue Reading

• MDM and business rules management

  Expert Jill Dyche explains the role of master data management (MDM) in business rules management. Business rules, she says, should leverage master data when they need to.  Continue Reading

• MDM vs. CDI

  Jill, glad to see you'll be hanging around on TechTarget for a few weeks. I think people will be bleeding your brain for substantive advice. I'll certainly take my shot. Here's my question: Everyone -- including you -- has been saying "plan MDM, but...  Continue Reading