Real-World Data Governance: Business Glossaries and Data Governance

Real-World Data Governance
Business Glossaries & Data Governance
The Role of the Business Glossary in Data Governance – and Vice Versa

Monthly Webinar Series Hosted by Dataversity
Robert S. Seiner – KIK Consulting / TDAN.com
September 20, 2012 – 2:00 p.m. EST

Robert S. Seiner
KIK Consulting & Educational Services – KIKconsulting.com
The Data Administration Newsletter – TDAN.com

Twitter at #RWDG 1

Non-Invasive Data Governance™ is a trademark of Robert S. Seiner & KIK Consulting
Twitter About This Webinar at #RWDG
Copyright © 2012 Robert S. Seiner – KIK Consulting & Educational Services / TDAN.com

Upcoming Webinars

• Real-World Data Governance – Monthly Webinar Series
– October 18, 2012 – BI Governance and the Governance of BI Data – 2pm EST
– November 15, 2012 – Tools of Data Governance – Purchased and Developed – 2pm EST
– December 20, 2012 – Tools of Data Governance – Purchased and Developed – 2pm EST

– Register On-Line at Dataversity.Net

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Abstract

• The Business Glossary is one of the most effective tools an organization can
develop or use to improve their likelihood of Data Governance success.

• Most organizations have business glossaries (note plural) that were
developed to support applications, packages and systems put in production
years (if not decades) ago.

• Although populating a glossary becomes a step (perhaps the last step) of
any data development effort, at issue is the fact that many of these
glossaries are out of date or in need of a serious overhaul to maximize their
value to the organization.

• These Glossaries need governance.

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Abstract

• This webinar will highlight the benefits a Glossary can provide to a Data
Governance program while also focusing on the level of Governance
required to deliver and maintain that high level of value.

• Join Bob Seiner and DATAVERSITY for the ninth in a series of monthly
webinars titled “Real-World Data Governance” focused on expanding your
knowledge about the role of the Business Glossary in Data Governance
success … and vice versa.

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Definitions

• Governance – Execution of Enforcement and Authority
– Responsibility & Accountability
• Stewardship – Formalizing Accountability
– Formal – Recorded
– Informal – Not Recorded – “People Just Know” – or do they?
• Master Data – Certifiable & Reliable Data
– Master data objects are those core business objects that are used in the
different applications across the organization, along with their
associated metadata, attributes, definitions, roles, connections and
taxonomies.
David Loshin – Data Flux & MDM Intro

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Copyright © 2012 Robert S. Seiner – KIK Consulting & Educational Services / TDAN.com 5

Definitions

• Non-Invasive Data Governance™
– The practice of applying
• formal accountability through roles & responsibilities
• to existing operations and processes
• to assure that the definition, production & usage of data
• assures regulatory compliance, security, privacy, protection & quality.
– Non-Invasive describes how governance is applied to assure
non-threatening management of valuable data assets.
– The goal is to be transparent, supportive, collaborative.

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What Does It Mean to Govern Something?

• [to] gov·ern [the data, the business glossary]
v. gov·erned, gov·ern·ing, gov·erns
– To make and administer the public policy and affairs [of data, of the business glossary]
– To exercise sovereign authority
– To control the speed or magnitude
– To regulate
– To control the actions or behavior
– To keep under control; to restrain
– To exercise a deciding or determining influence
– To exercise political authority
– To have or exercise a determining influence
FreeDictionary.com [Bob Seiner]

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Avoidable Mistakes – Negative

• Top Avoidable Data Governance Mistakes (in no specific order):
– Lack of Executive & Strategic Level Understanding & Support
– Lack of Program Accountability & Responsibility
– Lack of Definition of Best Practices as a Target Behavior
– Lack of Critical Analysis of Present Environment
– Inability to Select & Follow Suitable Approach
– Lack of Planning and Ability to Support Meaningful Initiatives
– Framework of Roles & Responsibilities
– Making Data Governance & Data Quality Optional
– Lack of Focus on Communications
– Improper Expectations of the Data Quality & Data Governance Solution
– Failure to Stay Iterative and Incremental in the Approach

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Considerations – Positive

• Top Considerations for Data Governance (in no specific order):
– Gain Executive & Strategic Level Understanding & Support
– Formalize Program Accountability & Responsibility
– Define Best Practices as a Target Behavior
– Conduct Critical Analysis of Present Environment
– Select & Follow Suitable Approach
– Plan and Support Meaningful Initiatives
– Provide a Framework of Roles & Responsibilities
– Assure Acceptance of Data Governance & Data Quality
– Focus on Communications
– Set Appropriate Expectations of the Data Quality & Data Governance Solution
– Stay Iterative and Incremental in the Approach

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What is a Business Glossary?

• What is a Business Glossary?
– Lowell Fryman on BeyeNETWORK.com
• The core objective of a Business Glossary is :
– To maximize the understanding of the core business concepts and terminology
of the organization.
– To minimize the misuse of data due to inaccurate understanding of the business
concepts and terms.
– To improve the alignment of the business organizations with the technology
assets and organization.
– To maximize the accuracy of the results to "searches" for business concepts, and
associated knowledge.

• Aren’t these the desired results of EVERY Data Management & Data
Governance Program?

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What is a Business Glossary?

• The Virtues of Kick Starting Your DG Program with a Small Set of Attributes
– Sunil Soares on Dataversity.net
• Quotable from the article
– Stand-up a business glossary starting with a small number of key business terms.
– Maybe just 15 or 20 business terms to start with.
– It can grow from there.
– For example, the bank focused on the definition of “customer” as one of the first
terms in its business glossary.

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Role of the Business Glossary in Data Governance

• Role of the Business Glossary in Data Governance
– Provide Central Resource of Truth and Understanding
– Provide Standard Meaning, Usage, Values
– Direct People to the Single Point of Truth or System of Record
– Enable Improved Analytics
– Encourage Business Involvement in Business Stewardship
– Ensure Measurable Governance Impact

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Role of Data Governance in the Business Glossary

• Role of Data Governance in the Business Glossary
– Provide Central Resource of Truth and Understanding
– Provide Standard Meaning, Usage, Values
– Direct People to the Single Point of Truth or System of Record
– Enable Improved Analytics
– Encourage Business Involvement in Business Stewardship
– Ensure Measurable Governance Impact
• How can they be the same?

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Role of Data Governance in the Business Glossary

– To communicate that the Business Glossary is both a Thing and a Process.
– To prevent “Cheeseburger Definitions”
– To assure that a process is followed to collect selected information.
– To assure that the Business Glossary is made available where it will add value.
– To assure that the Business Glossary is used for Business Purposes.
– The Business Glossary will NOT create and maintain itself.
– The Business Glossary
requires Governance.

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Another Two Way Street?

• The role of the Business Glossary in Data Governance.

• The role of Data Governance in the Business Glossary.

• But first let’s introduce the …
Business Data Element Framework
(BDEF)
• Old Concept
• K.I.S.S.

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Business Data Element Framework (BDEF)

Twitter at #RWDG 16



• The Business Data Element Framework (BDEF) keys on two fields together:
– Business Data Element (BDE) Name
– BDE System / Data / Model Source of Record Name
• In BDEF the following meta data sets are repeatable:
– BDE Alias Information
– BDE Process / Report Information
• In BDEF the following meta data is repeatable within it’s meta data set:
– BDE Valueset Information
• In BDEF to repeat the meta data sets of information & value attributes:
– Copy and Paste the Meta Data Information Sets in the Document

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• Business Data Element
– BDE Name (Key Lookup)
– BDE Description
– BDE Use Description and History
• Source of Record
– System
– Database
– Model

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• BDE Alias Information
– Business Standard Name
– Data Model Name
– Physical Name
– Logical Name
– Mapping of BDE to BDE
– Along with System, Database, Model Name

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• BDE Process / Report Information
– How is this data used?
– What processes depend on this data and when?
– Where is this data created?
– Where is this data used in calculations?
– Where is this data manipulated or changed?
– Where is this data reported?
– Under what name?

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• BDE Valueset Information
– Values and Meaning
– Value Ranges and Meaning
– Source of Values

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• BDE Governance Information
– What Domain(s) is/are this BDE associated with?
– Who is responsible for the Domain?
– Who are the Stewards of this BDE? By System? Database? Model?
– What is the contact information for the Stewards?

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Sample BDEF Glossary

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Twitter at #RWDG 26


Roles & Responsibilities

Data Governance Program Team Executive Level
Data Governance Team Manager Data Steering Committee
Responsible for Administering the Program, Senior-most level knowledge of the program.
facilitating use of the Data Governance Council, Leverage existing business structure as possible.
communicating program components and value to the Organization. If no structure exists, utilize an IT Steering Committee
Executive
Advisory assistance from other levels. or an executive founded board or council.

IT Subject Resource Experts Strategic Level
System/Data Resource Experts Data Governance Council
IT Staff including Application Data Governance Sponsors Group
Development, Data Design, or Group of similar participation. One person, plus
Security, and other Data alternate, for each Business Unit represented & IT.
Strategic -
Resource Management. Consider financial services & human resources.
Enterprise

Tactical Level
T)

Data Domain Stewards
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Per assigned Subject Areas
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Data Steward Coordinators
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One per Business Unit
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Tactical Level - Cross Business Unit
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Operational Level
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Operational Data Stewards (existing)
Go

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Data Definers, Producers, Users
ta

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These people are presently defining,

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producing and using data as part of their

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jobs. Recording of the Operational Data

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Stewards will be an important enabler of

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improved communications, coordination

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and cooperation among stewards.

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Operational Level - Business Unit Specific

Copyright © 2009 - Robert S. Seiner - KIK Consulting & Educational Services, LLC - All Rights Reserved

Twitter at #RWDG 27



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Applying Governance to the Business Glossary

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Twitter at #RWDG 31


Summary

• What is a Business Glossary?
• Business Data Element Framework (BDEF)
• Role of the Business Glossary in Data Governance
• Tools of Data Governance
– These may Kick (KIK) -Start Your Data Governance Program

Twitter at #RWDG 33


Future Data Governance Events

• Real-World Data Governance – Monthly Webinar Series
– October 18, 2012 – BI Governance and the Governance of BI Data – 2pm EST
– November 15, 2012 – Tools of Data Governance – Purchased and Developed – 2pm EST
– December 20, 2012 – Tools of Data Governance – Purchased and Developed – 2pm EST

• DGPO Webinar
– Award Winning Data Governance – Tuesday October 2, 2012 – 2pm EST

• Data Governance Winter Conference
– Produced by Dataversity and DEBTECH International – December 3-5, 2012

• Two Day Public Seminar – Just Announced – Contact Me for Info!
– How to Build and Implement a Non-Invasive Data Governance Program
– Monday and Tuesday January 14th and 15th, 2013
– Sheraton Station Square, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
– Class Size Limited to 25
– Buy Two Seats at Full Price Get Third Seat Free – Early Bird Specials Before December 10, 2012
– Stocked Full of Templates and Tools of Non-Invasive Data Governance
– Templates and Tools on a Flash Drive as well as Hard Copy

Twitter at #RWDG 34


Contact Information

• Robert S. Seiner
KIK Consulting & Educational Services – KIKconsulting.com
The Data Administration Newsletter – TDAN.com
Post Office Box 112571, Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania 15241
412.220.9643, 412.220.9644 (Fax)
rseiner@kikconsulting.com
rseiner@tdan.com

Twitter at #RWDG 35


Real-World Data Governance: Business Glossaries and Data Governance

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