About the Webinar
This presentation explores the critical distinction between three types of data – transaction, reference, and master – and outlines why mastering the latter two is a prerequisite for organizational success. It addresses the common “blind men and the elephant” problem, where different parts of an organization have fragmented, inconsistent views of data. The central argument is that modern data-driven initiatives, from AI to advanced analytics, will inevitably fail without a robust foundation of high-quality reference and master data. Dedicated MDM programs define the core principles, activities, and technologies required to establish a single, authoritative source of truth, often referred to as the “golden record.” By proactively managing these essential data types, organizations can improve data governance, reduce costs, and build the confidence and trust needed to transform data into a strategic asset. The presentation emphasizes that success requires a programmatic approach, a clear understanding of stakeholder needs, and the right tools to build and maintain this critical data foundation.
About the Speakers
Peter Aiken, Ph.D. is an acknowledged Data Management authority, an associate professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, president of DAMA International, and associate director of the MIT International Society of Chief Data Officers. For more than 40 years, Peter has learned from working with hundreds of Data Management practices in more than 30 countries. Among his 13 books are the first on making the case for data leadership (CDOs), the first focusing on data monetization and modern strategic data thinking, and the first to objectively specify what it means to be data-literate. International recognition has resulted from these and a (pre-Covid-19) intensive worldwide events schedule. Peter also hosts the longest-running Data Management webinar series on dataversity.net. Before Google, before data was big, and before Data Science, Peter founded several organizations that have helped more than 200 businesses leverage data – specific savings have been measured at more than $1.5 billion. His latest venture is Anything Awesome.
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