An important part of implementing Master Data Management (MDM) is to capture the business rules that exists within the implementing organization and build those rules into the solution. In addition, and maybe even more important, is the quest of crafting new business rules that helps making master data being of more value to the implementing organization.
Examples of such new business rules that may come along with MDM implementations are:
- In order to open a business account you must supply a valid Legal Entity Identifier (like Company Registration Number, VAT number or whatever applies to the business and geography in question)
- A delivery address must be verified against an address directory (valid for the geography in question)
- In order to bring a product into business there is a minimum requirement for completeness of product information.
Creating new business rules to be part of the to-be master data regime highlights the interdependency of people, process and technology. New technology can often be the driver for taking on board such new business rules. Building on the above examples such possibilities may be:
- The ability to support real time pick and check of external identifiers
- The ability to support real time auto completion and check of postal addresses
- The ability to support complex completeness checks of a range of data elements
Liliendahl on Data Quality 