Master Data Management (MDM) refers to processes used to define and manage master or reference data, including how it will be created, integrated, maintained and used throughout an organisation. Master Data Management is crucial in the government context because it seeks to ensure that agencies achieve consistency in master data across business units and applications and apply uniform business rules to enable sharing of data assets across agencies and government functions.
What good looks like
- Shared: Master Data is interoperable across business units and agencies.
- Standardised: Master Data aligns with agreed state, national and international standards.
- Single view: Master Data is recorded and maintained on an accessible and, where possible, centralised repository creating a single view of the data.
- Controlled: changes to Master Data are agreed and authorised with due consideration of impacts to other data management functions and business processes.
How to achieve good practice
- Identify and agree on data definitions – this involves determining the most accurate data values from among potentially conflicting data values and getting agreement from different parts of the organisation.
- Collect the Master Data into a central database – this database should link to all participating applications.
- Publish Master Data – ensure its use in all appropriate business intelligence and analytics reporting across the organisation, at all levels.
- Establish maintenance policies and processes.
Additional resources
ISO 8000-115 Data Quality – Part 115: Master Data – this is the global standard for Data Quality and Enterprise Master Data. It describes the features and defines the requirements for standard exchange of Master Data among stakeholders.
Last updated 12 Nov 2020