How to achieve successful Master Data Management (MDM)

Master Data Management aims to create a single, clear view on business critical information. In practice most companies already struggle when it comes to having a clear and singular definition of what they consider their company’s master data. The fact that vendors and experts themselves cannot seem to agree on a clear definition doesn’t help either.

This seminar will guide you through the common definitions, helping you understand which one may be right for your company. You will also discover what the advantages and disadvantages are of adopting the particular definitions, practices, tools and processes that come with it.

In our holistic view, the correct definition – and subsequent MDM initiative – depends on the value it adds to your business. LoQutus’ known approach (starting on a strategic level and then diving into a particular detailed area) will certainly be applied here, demonstrating how technological choices are properly motivated by business objectives.

Many companies have embarked upon a journey to introduce Master Data Management in their organization.  The success rate of these projects is significantly lower than of other software development projects, with most projects typically going over budget, taking longer than expected to finish, and/or not delivering on their promises.
Another aspect of MDM initiatives is that companies are very reluctant to abandon them, even when they run over budget and time, and can’t deliver.  The main reason is that the –perceived – benefits are so critical to the organization that these initiatives are regarded as quintessential to the business.

In this seminar we take a realistic look at the reasons behind this failing.  To provoke the audience, and invoke a good discussion, we put forward the bold statement: “Every Master Data Management initiative fails”.  For the purpose of really delving down into the essence of the problems this exaggeration is an ideal eye opener, providing the audience with plentiful ammunition to take back and start the discussion in their own organizations.

Covered topics:
- Master Data Management as part of Information Management as part of Enterprise Architecture
- Expected benefits of MDM (problem and solution statement)
- Overview of plethora of definitions, with a no-nonsense pros and cons summary
- Detailed example that shows low-level implementation/impact of MDM

What can you expect?
A fast pace, value-packed information session which will provide you with best practices, guidance through the vendor and market jungle, hints and tips on how to recognize and avoid pitfalls and a holistic view that helps your business take the right decisions.

Recommended for:
- Business Decision makers (Management, CxO): you will learn what you can realistically expect from MDM
- IT decision maker (CIO, ICT Management): you will learn how to support and convince your business in making the right decisions
- Architects (Enterprise, Business, Application, …): you will learn how to correctly give MDM a place in your roadmaps and architectures and discover which common reference architectures exist

Agenda:
1.30 p.m. – 2.00 p.m.  Registration and welcome coffee
2.00 p.m. – 3.10 p.m. Why Master Data Management Initiatives will fail
                                        MDM, IM, EA and their relationships
                                        MDM is dead, long live MDM
                                        Market overview, conflicting definitions, pros/cons
3.10 p.m. – 3.30 p.m.  Coffee break
3.30 p.m. – 5.00 p.m.  The eagle has landed: from bird’s eye view to detailed scenario
5.00 p.m. – 6.00 p.m.  Closing cocktail

Our guest speakers:
The last ten years Carlo Wouters has had several positions within the ICT sector, ranging from project management and team lead over information architect and enterprise architect. Working in a complex environment is a frequently recurring element in his career, with current focus mainly on modeling business architectures, service oriented architecture (SOA) and enterprise content management (ECM). In the past Carlo used to teach software engineering and information architecture (ontologies). He has developed a unique combination of skills: process & information architecture combined with insight in several technical solutions in the domain of workflow and proces management and experience in managing complex IT projects. Carlo holds a PhD in Computer Science, and is a certified Prince 2 Practitioner.

Serendipity level:
The serenity which can be found in the lobby descends upon you the minute you walk through the door. An original visual serves as a partition with the busyness on the Europe crossroad. For the seminar itself, you will be expected in room Gomasio, a typical Japanese topping, made from unhulled sesame seeds and salt.

Register here. Once we received your registration you will get a confirmation mail a week before the seminar.