Blog: Dan E. Linstedt

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MDM: Local Copies versus Localized Copies

What do I mean by Local versus Localized copies of Master Data? In this entry I will try to explain my definition for each. This is a short entry, and as always, comments are welcome.

I did not say "local copies" should not exist, what I did suggest is that no "localized" copies should exist. If I did actually refer to "no local copies" then shame on me, I made a mistake.

Local Copies of the data replicated Master Lists across geographically dispersed regions for fast access times, this is fine.

Localized copies of the data
Master Data that has been "changed, altered, or is different" in some way from the source of the Master Data Set. In other words, someone not only changed the master metadata (definition in how the data set is used in context - which is OK to override), but they also changed the MASTER DATA itself, to represent "their version" of the master data. This is NOT ok. It re-creates the silo's and destroys the master data purpose to span the horizontal enterprise.

I hope this clears things up.
Cheers,
Dan Linstedt
CTO, Myers-Holum, Inc
http://www.MyersHolum.com

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