1.) Survey the Organization's Existing Data Assets, Products, and Competency
- An initial inventory provides great insight to the variety of similar data used throughout the organization.
- Start from the pain points if that’s easier. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.
2.) Establish an MDM Governance Body
- Ensure executive buy-in. Create executive roles to serve as the responsible data champions for the organization, e.g. Chief Data Office, Chief Analytics Officer.
- Since MDM is essentially a part of overarching data governance, utilize your existing data governance structure (if you don’t have data governance, well, that’s another blog!). This body will be imperative in many decision points during the initial data “de-weaving” as well as ongoing maintenance. It will also serve as the advocate for the needed organizational change management.
- The MDM governance body must address both business and technical considerations. It is vital to recognize ongoing MDM is not only a technical “massage” of data, it also involves business processes and organizational culture. Successful education around this philosophy will perpetuate a fruitful MDM program.
3.) Foster an Organizational Culture of MDM
- Promote the benefits of data consistency enhances MDM efforts in the long run.
- Plan for the expected changes to minimize political obstacles.
4.) Evaluate Internal Technical Capability on Supporting an MDM Initiative
(Hint: Don't Rush Out and Get a Shiny MDM Tool)
- Assess your current tools and staff to fully understand their capabilities. While technology can enable a desired process, the first priority is to understand what you and your team can already do with what they have to work with today.
- In the same way as if you don’t know how to drive, you shouldn’t be shopping for a car; you must understand what you need before you can go to market for a solution.
We hope these recommendations inspire you to develop a successful MDM program that supports solid data-driven decisions for your organization. Decisions you can trust, based on a well-managed source of truth.
