Databases Reference
In-Depth Information
Unification of the repository
MDM brings with it a unified and centralized management
of reference and master data. This does not mean that the
physical architecture must be centralized. It is possible to
opt for a distributed technical architecture. We will return
to this IT aspect in Chapter 12.
1.3.1.
Data initialized before use by transactional
systems
Each data initialized before its use by the transactions
that support the company processes, is a reference or master
data. This data is often administered by heterogenous,
technical and sometimes even simple automated office tools
(such as spreadsheets). They are employed by teams
responsible for the functional and IT parameter settings.
The structure of this data can be simple (this is often the
case with codes and labels). This is reference data. More
complex data is also involved, associated with validation
rules and integrity constraints. This is the case for instance
with product configurations, organization definitions, charts
of accounts, etc. This is master data.
For these types of data, an MDM system replaces the
existing technical and heterogenous tools. It brings a unified
business data governance, across the whole of the
Information System, with high value added functions such
as version management, data input by use contexts, data
traceability, etc.
1.3.2.
Duplicate data
When a data element is duplicated in multiple systems,
update synchronizations must be dealt with. The data must
have the same value in all of its storage zones. In order to
