Master Data Management in Practice: Achieving True Customer MDM

Summary

Although reaching a mature state of Customer MDM may not be stated explicitly as a goal or objective in the strategy and planning, it certainly is implied in the concept of Master Data Management. In other words, reaching maturity is a requirement for achieving a successful end state result from MDM. We stated that as much focus needs to go into institutionalizing and maturing these practices as is needed to initiate them, but it is necessary to first consider what constitutes a mature MDM model and how this can be gauged.

We have presented a methodology for measuring the overall maturity of the MDM model by gauging maturity more discreetly across the four key disciplines. Each discipline area needs to develop in relationship to and in coordination with the other areas, with data governance and data stewardship being the most influential areas.

A mature Customer MDM model is reliant on having a mature state of data governance where, within that process, dials (figuratively speaking) can be adjusted to the left or right to control the data domain. This means having control from both a reactive and proactive perspective.

There are certainly other perspectives and details on MDM maturity that we also encourage you to examine such as the DataFlux white paper prepared by David Loshin titled “MDM Components and the Maturity Model.”³

Lastly—and again we emphasize—that getting to a mature state of MDM can be a slow, deliberate process that will require some adjustments and out-of-the-box ...