Achieve Business Goals by Leveraging Your Company’s Data: Apply a Master Data Management Framework Information is critical to today’s organizations, and many business strategies depend on master data: to improve customer service, streamline products, or improve quality. That data can be both a problem and a solution for achieving business goals. At the same time, system environments are increasing in complexity and require careful integration of people, process and technology. Applying a framework for managing master data can mitigate the complexity and help build a program that generates faster business results. Master Data Management (MDM) tools and technologies can facilitate management of data, but many companies focus solely on the acquisition and implementation of an MDM tool without addressing the vision, strategy and process that are essential to successful MDM. Leveraging Technology believes a framework for MDM should be established first – before implementing an MDM tool. The framework will support and enable more effective use of the MDM technology. What is an MDM Framework? A framework, such as the one developed by Leveraging Technology, focuses on understanding how master data fits into the overall business strategy, assesses the current capabilities and then uses this information to build effective strategy, governance and process.

We recommend a 7-point MDM framework that addresses the points above. More details follow:

7 points to address in an MDM framework

1. Vision Identify high level business vision and ownership: “Improve customer service through a single view of the customer.”

2. Strategy State how the vision will be realized: “Build a single, trusted view of the customer.”

3. Governance Create decision rights and accountability for authoring, storage, enrichment, publishing, consumption and maintenance of data.

4. Organization Create a small dedicated team to drive MDM with joint business and IT ownership, structure for communication, training.

5. Process Consider the process and ownership during all data lifecycle events related to governance, authoring, storing, updating data (such as product data loaded to multiple systems that needs to be updated with pricing, terms). Identify process ownership and close any quality gaps.

6. Technology Use it to integrate capabilities: synchronization, business services and workflow, performance scalability, security, architecture and data models.

7. Metrics Align MDM metrics to corporate goals; identify how master data quality impacts business objectives.

How to Get Started Use a framework like the one above to assess your company’s existing capabilities, identify the gaps and build a roadmap to address them. It can be done stepwise, tackling each point in the framework then proceeding to the next. Need help making a case for MDM? Leveraging Technology’s team of Enterprise and Information Architects can help you understand the business value of improved MDM and develop recommendations and a practical roadmap. Our goals are to quickly establish the capabilities a company needs and then build out your overall competency over time. Incorporate technology While technology is important for effective MDM, it cannot make up for deficiencies in the other aspects of an organization. Establishing an MDM framework will prepare you to select the right tool to meet your company’s needs. About Leveraging Technology We stand ready to help your organization establish a systematic approach to the collection, use, and disposal of trusted data, as well as improve access and experience for users and customers. We are a business consulting firm founded in 1998 that fully understands how all aspects of the information technology lifecycle can impact business results. We employ a practical, partnering approach to transforming the design and architecture of your information technology environment to drive business performance. Contact: To inquire about the framework and our approach to MDM, call or email Mike Cardillo, Enterprise Architect, at mcardillo@leveragingtechnology.com or 585.454.4250 x122.

Our design philosophy

• We believe good design is essential in today’s increasingly complex system and data environments • We design flexible solutions to meet business needs using technology as appropriate to meet those needs. • We use established, proven frameworks and techniques and repeatable methodologies • We believe master data management can be a key enabler for businesses when treated as an end-to-end collection

and integration of people, process and technology.

Working with Leveraging Technology is different than with other consulting firms because we look at each client’s organization and not just the technology. We partner with clients in unique ways to help them design and build internal capabilities and sustain them in the most cost-effective way.