Putting a name to the Data

Too frequently, any kind of system documentation or data maintenance becomes impossible to schedule in. It ends up as a 'nice to have' objective as seemingly more pressing daily tasks take precedence.

However, there's one type of data documentation you shouldn't ignore - Metadata.

What is Metadata?

Put simply, metadata is data about data. It is an at-a-glance, top line data menu that helps you understand what data is available to you.

Stored in a repository, an up-to-date Metadata repository will give business decision-makers the tools for finding their data requirements quickly and accurately. Metadata can be used to track a data item's progress through the system or through a number of systems, it can give an overview of how the data transforms and where its final destination is.

Who benefits from having Metadata in place?

• Anyone who needs to understand what data is available and the origin of that data, such as Business Analysts and Developers
• It is a particularly good tool for tying together various elements of a company's data

Metadata - the font of all knowledge?

We think so, yes. Metadata should be the repository of all knowledge about a company's systems, and it should be accessible and usable by all involved in business decision-making and development.

How Data Coach can help you

Data Coach sets up the Metadata repository for your company, populating it and we can also highlight any inconsistencies found, allowing you to clear out the deadwood.