The Data Model Resource Book, Volume 3: Universal Patterns for Data Modeling

Silverston c09.tex V2 - 11/21/2008 3:16am Page 545

Master Data Management 545

What Are the Weaknesses of Using Patterns

for the Solution?

The weaknesses of using patterns for a master data management data model

are as follows:

Difficult to understand when more generalized patterns are used. If

a data professional is not familiar with the patterns, reading the data

model can be difficult initially, even for experienced data professionals.

It can seem complicated to the uninitiated or untrained. The model pro-

duced by the data team was meant to describe the data requirements for

the purchase of a MDM solution. The generalized patterns in this model

may not be the most effective way to describe specific requirements that

Sands may have for this solution. Also, the data team would have had to

‘walk’ each of potential vendors through the model to describe the data

requirements that they needed fulfilled. These requirements may not be

self-evident from the model unless the vendor is also familiar with pat-

terns.

Mapping from the various source systems to this model can be more

complex when using more generalized patterns. Mapping, integrat-

ing, and synchronizing data from many sources can be more challenging

using these generalized patterns because they are more complex (unless

the enterprise has standardized on the use of these types of patterns

in its other applications and then it can actually be easier ...