Inside IT with Evan Levy

MDM: Build or Buy?

On the publication of my new Informatica white paper, titled “Master Data Management: Building a Foundation for Success,” I’ve been talking to several clients and vendors wanting more information about the build-versus-buy decision. In fact when I was writing the paper I was in the process of evaluating three MDM vendor solutions on behalf of a high-technology firm we work with, while at the same time counseling another firm not to jump too quickly into the MDM fray without first examining its incumbent technology solutions. As with most strategic IT solutions, when it comes to MDM one size doesn’t fit all.

As I say in my Informatica paper, there are a variety of factors involved in the rigorous evaluation of MDM technology. In the paper, I describe five core MDM functions that should drive a deliberate MDM strategy:

1. Data cleansing and correction
2. Metadata
3. Security and access services
4. Data migration
5. Identity resolution

Interestingly, each of these core functional areas can exist on its own, absent any sort of MDM solution or plan. You probably have a few of them already.

Which is why it amazes me that so few companies actually take a structured and proactive approach to planning their MDM initiatives. Why go through a business-driven process of examining the importance of, say, matching, when it’s easy enough to let the vendor make its pitch and start negotiating prices? Because you can end up overinvesting, that’s why.
 

We worked with a large media company on a set of robust MDM business and functional requirements back in 2007. The goal was to prioritize MDM requirements and then map them to various vendor capabilities. This would ensure that the resulting solution solved the right business issues. We delivered our MDM Masterplan to the client, and MDM immediately got funding. Success!

But management at the media company got sucked into the hype of a rival media company’s MDM success, and ended up choosing the same vendor as its competitor. Flash forward to 2009. The media company continues to implement and customize its MDM solution, with no rollout date in sight.

The point here is whether you choose to build or buy your MDM solution, know what you need, and what you don’t need. I know that sounds obvious. But obviously, it’s not.

photo by Guwashi999 via Flickr (Creative Commons License)

Happy Birthday, Evan!

It's Evan's birthday today, but he's busy in Orlando, Florida today at this week's TDWI World Conference, so Baseline Central is taking over his blog for the day to offer up some birthday wishes. Now, you may know Evan as the eloquent blogger and instructor in TDWI sessions like today's "Introduction to MDM for BI Professionals" or "Gathering MDM Requirements: A Different Formula."

But... how well do you really know Evan?

Here at the home office, we've gathered up a few of our favorite "Evan-isms" from over the years. Quiz yourself and see how well you know Evan!

“I’ll have a Diet Coke.”

"MDM is subject area integration. Any questions?”

"Nordstrom can know my underwear size. But I don’t want my health care provider to know my underwear size.”

"Where are my keys?”

"It’s 4:00 o’clock. Time for lunch.”

"Enterprise data convergence. You doing it? Um…no you’re not.”

"Where are my keys?”

"When it comes to data quality, perfect is the enemy of good.”

"You either master data management, or you manage master data. Or both.”

"Where are my keys?”

"Operational systems are focused on business process alignment and functional accuracy, not data content accuracy.”

"Bite me.”

"Where are my keys?”

Yup, that sounds like Evan alright! Happy birthday, Evan, from all of us at Baseline Consulting!