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There has been a lot of confusion on various terms related to data management and BI. Here is a broad list of statements to clarify the differences and state their inter-linkages..
Broad Definitions:
Data Management:
Data management is a bigger subject, and includes master data management and Metadata management as the sub-subjects. Some other sub-subjects included within data management are Data Quality, Data Conversion and Data Integration.
Data Management serves BI as one of its customers, as BI needs a quality and well-integrated data. However, data management does not server ONLY BI. It serves all other domains where one needs healthy and integrated data. For example data management initiatives are equally important for an ERP transactional solution OR to a field system.
Master Data Management
Master data management is one kind of Data Management Initiative. MDM is a set of processes, infrastructure and tools to create and maintain a unified (though not necessarily a physically single) reference for all ‘non-transaction entities’, to ensure that there is a ‘consistent and standard’ ‘structure and data’ related to these entities.
MDM includes a host of data integration techniques and also the establishment of standards, which are enforced manually OR in automated way. For example, Customer MDM will also make sure that customer data is either existing at a single place OR is synchronized to make sure that all copies of Customer Master Data are congruent/aligned.
Metadata Management
Metadata management is the set of tools and processes by which we maintain a unified reference to the details on all data, information and knowledge existing within an organization. A metadata repository contains this information at various level of details (from contextual to implementation), and aspects (function, timing, location, history of changes…) of the data existing in all forms (automated and non-automated..) within an organization.
Metadata helps in understanding and searching for what exists in an organization, encouraging consistency and help managing change effectively. Refer What is Metadata and Why Metadata
Business Intelligence:
BI is a set of tools and processes to generate intelligent and actionable information to the audience. It starts from retrieving data from the source transactional systems and data repositories, transforming and integrating the data, and finally load it in the form so that BI end-user tools can generate the information.
BI uses MDM and Metadata infrastructure to meet its ends.
Comparisons across MDM, Metadata and BI
Business Intelligence vs. MDM
- Like Data Management, MDM also serves all stakeholders of an organization and not only BI. BI is one of the key beneficiaries.
- BI is not the only way one can integrate the Master Data. MDM can deploy various other integration techniques. Theoretically speaking, MDM can be implemented in an organization, even if there is no BI infrastructure.
- MDM is focused on the Master non-transactional data, whereas BI also has transactional data within its preview.
Business Intelligence vs. Metadata
- Metadata (like MDM) serves BI as one of its stakeholders. For example an ERP is an equal stakeholder as is BI for metadata management.
- Metadata is an generally an enterprise wide initiative and is linked to various functions within an organization WHEREAS BI may OR may not be an enterprise wide initiative (you can have a data-mart at a functional level).
Metadata vs. MDM
- Metadata is covering all kinds of data WHEREAS MDM is concerned about non-transaction master-data only.
- Metadata is not for integration and synchronization of the data (though it does support that objective) WHEREAS master data integration is core to the MDM. Technically speaking, you can have a metadata repository, without a good synchronization and integration of data,, but you cannot have an MDM, without the same.
- Metadata is not mandated on about the common standards and business rules (though it supports that objective) about data WHEREAS MDM fundamentals are based on common standards and business rules.
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