directory rollout issues and strategies data issues and strategies michael j. lewis chevron...

Directory Rollout Issues and Strategies

Data Issues and Strategies

Michael J. Lewis

Chevron Information Technology Company

Houston, Texas

April 29, 1998

April 29, 1998Directory Rollout Issues & Strategies 2

Agenda

• Required data • Data sources• Quality of data• Multiple sources• Feeds and Update


Required Data

• Issue: Determine what data is required

• Strategy: – Set project context

• Document current directory environment

• Gather customer requirements

• Prioritize problems to address

• Set direction/vision/project plan

– Select data to meet project objectives


What is a directory/meta-directory?

• Issue: Getting customer input is difficult because end-users/management simply don’t know – Exposed only to most trivial examples of directories

– “meta” means different things to different people

• Strategy: – Develop good definitions and educate

– Generate business examples and communicate


Data Sources

• Issue: Directory population methods have own issues– User input: Getting users to enter data

– Existing data sources: Locating appropriate sources

• Strategy: – Provide incentives to encourage full user data entry

– Talk to data owners to “know” your data sources


Process to “know” your data sources

• Identify “important” data sources (HR, phone book)

• Conduct interviews with current directory support– Data contained within

– Feeds into the database

– Feeds out of the database

• Loop back if “new” data sources are revealed


Quality of Data (1)

• Issues: – Multiple sources

• Pieces of an entry from different sources

• Same data field from different sources

– Inconsistent/different formats (field and record)

– Inaccurate

– Quirks (and other weird stuff)


Quality of Data (2)

• Strategy 1: Locate Inconsistencies– Look at actual data

– Employ data experts

• Strategy 2: Correct Inconsistencies– Correct errors within sources

– Look for “better” sources

– Rework schema to match data


Multiple sources

• Issue: Multiple input sources require key to match records

• Strategy: – Use combination of existing keys

– Insert key in data sources


Feeds and Update

• Issue: Which of the following is the best means to feed data from existing sources into the directory– Continuous

– Single load (directory absorbs source)

• Strategy - balance objectives versus difficulty


Objectives versus Difficulties

Continuous Single Load

In-line update - +Currentprocesses leftintact

+ -

• Single load may not be possible


Summary

Issue - Strategy

• Required Data - Set context

• Data sources - Interview owners

• Quality of data - Examine your data

• Multiple sources - Insert keys

• Feeds and Update - Objectives/difficulty

• For further information - [email protected]

directory rollout issues and strategies data issues and strategies michael j. lewis chevron...

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