mastervsreference

8/7/2019 MasterVsReference

1/20

Master Data

versusReference Data

Malcolm Chisholm Ph.D.Reference Data Portalwww.refdataportal.com

[email protected] Askget.com Inc., 2006. All rights reserved


2/20

W hat are Master

and Reference Data?

Askget.com Inc., 2006. All rights reserved


3/20

Metadata

Reference Data

Transaction Structure Data

Enterprise Structure Data

Transaction Activity Data

Transaction Audit Data

Data Exists As Different Layers

Increasing:Volume of DataPopulation Later in TimeShorter Life Span

Increasing:

Semantic ContentPer Value Data Quality Importance

Most RelevantTo Design

Most RelevantTo Outside World

Most RelevantTo Business

Most Relevant

To Technology



4/20

L ayers of Data

Metadata Usually describes the structure of databases.Found in a databases system catalog. Sometimes included indatabase tables.Reference Data Codes and descriptions. Tables containingthis data usually have just a few rows and columns.

Transaction Structure Data The parties to the transactions of the enterprise. E.g. Customer, Product.Enterprise Structure Data Data that describes the structure of the enterprise. E.g. organizational or financial structure.Transaction Activity Data Traditional focus of IT in manyenterprises the only focus.

Transaction Audit Data Data that tracks the life cycle of individual transactions. Includes server logs.



5/20

W hat Is Reference Data?

Definition of Reference Data:

Reference Data is any kind of data that is used solely tocategorize other data found in a database, or solely for relatingdata in a database to information beyond the boundaries of theenterprise.

Also known as: L ookup Data, Domain Values.

Some people include Master Data and Enterprise Structure

Data as reference data.

Some people regard any data imported into a database, or notupdated by a system as reference data.



6/20

W hat Is Transaction Structure Data?

Definition of Transaction Structure Data:

Data that represents the direct participants in a transaction, andwhich must be present before a transaction fires.

Definition of Transaction Activity Data:Data that represents the operations an enterprise carries out

Some people do not think of data that represents all participantsin a transaction as Master Data. They only recognize some, e.g.

Product, Customer.



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W hat Is Enterprise Structure Data?

Definition of Enterprise Structure Data:

Data that permits business activity to be reported or analyzed bybusiness responsibility.

Some people call it hierarchies or dimensions.



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Metadata

Reference Data


Enterprise Structure DataTransaction Activity Data

Transaction Audit Data

Master Data

Master Data = Reference Data (Code Tables, Taxonomies)+ Transaction Structure Data (Product, Customer)+ Enterprise Structure Data (CoA, Org. Structure)

AskGet.com Inc., 2006. All rights reserved


9/20

Metadata

Reference Data


Enterprise Structure Data

Transaction Activity DataTransaction Audit Data

Common Definition of Master Datadoes not Include Reference Data

Master Data = Transaction Structure Data (Product, Customer)+ Enterprise Structure Data (CoA, Org. Structure)

Many people do not like code tables, and see Master Data as Product,Customer, Chart of Accounts, Organization Structure, etc.

W e will use this definition for this presentation, although we do not agreewith it.

AskGet.com Inc., 2006. All rights reserved


10/20

Master and Reference Data

Reference Data


Transaction Activity Data



11/20

Characteristics

and Management Needs



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Structure: Differences

Master Data Reference DataFew Rows per TableMany Rows per Table

Many Columns per Table Few Columns per Table

Few Tables per Database Many Tables per Database

Changes More Quickly Changes More Slowly

Highly Shared withinEnterprise

Highly Shared withinEnterprise and between

Enterprises



13/20

Semantics: Differences

Master Data Reference DataEntities W ell DefinedEntities Poorly Defined

Individual Rows HaveMeaning

No Meaning At Row L evel

W hat is a Customer?

Sales: IncludesProspects

Accts Rcvbl: OnlyPeople who have

Paid

W hat is China inCountry Code Table?

Excludes Hong Kong

Includes Macao



14/20

Semantics: Management

Master Data Reference DataEntities W ell DefinedEntities Poorly Defined

Individual Rows HaveMeaning

No Meaning At Row L evel

Definitions Exist withinContexts

Need to AttachDefinitions to Rows

DefinitionsDrive Business Rules

Make Row- L evelDefinitions Available

To Users / Developers

Commonly AcceptedDefinition Impossible

Need to be aware of Context / Definition inTarget System when

Exchanging Data Row-levelStewardship



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Primary Keys: Differences

Master Data Reference DataCodes / AcronymsIntelligent Keys

Use of Standards

Assist human users

Perhaps the

Greatest ProblemIn Master DataManagement

Useful in DisplayingData, e.g. USA

Standards, e.g. Country(ISO-3166),Currency (ISO-4217)

Unique Identification



16/20

Primary Keys: Management

Master Data Reference DataCodes / AcronymsIntelligent Keys

Use of Standards

EnsuringCorrect Updates

Identifying and ResolvingSynonyms, and Impact onTransaction Activity Data

Deciding how to createCodes and Acronyms

Finding and Subscribing toStandards

Unique Identification

Ensuring Codes Do NotViolate Semantics,

e.g. EUR inCountry Code Table

Permitting Different IdentificationSchemes (e.g. CUSIP,

SEDO L , ISIN for Securities)



17/20

Business Rules: Differences

Master Data Reference DataRows Drive Business RulesBusiness Rules Act on Rows

Business Rules Act on Master Data

Business Rules

Reference DataValues

E.g. If Customer Type = GO L D Then



18/20

Business Rules: Management

Master Data Reference DataRows Drive Business RulesBusiness Rules Act on Rows

Need to AuditHow Business Rules

Change Data

Need to UnderstandEffects on Business

Rules

Stewardship soChange Cycle

Does not Disrupt Systems

VersioningImportant



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Conclusion

Master Data and Reference Data are different kinds of data.

They have different properties.

They behave differently.

They have different management needs.

Attempts to manage them using the same techniques will not be

successful.



20/20

Master Data vs. Reference Data

Malcolm Chisholm

www.refdataportal.com

*** Now featuring Reference Data Cost Estimator ***www.masterdatamgmt.com

www.bizrulesengine.com

[email protected]

Tel: 732-539-3406Fax:407-264-6809


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