Information Management IBM InfoSphere Master Data Management, Version 11.3

User roles for MDM

To offer some clarity about which members of your organization might complete particular MDM tasks, the InfoSphere® MDM documentation employs a set of specific user roles.

The roles that are outlined here are descriptive. They do not correspond to product capabilities. In particular, the user roles do not determine which features users can use.

These roles are examples of the type of roles that you might have in your organization. Your organization might call these roles by other names.

Table 1. Implementation and Operations roles
Role Description
Architect The goals of the Architect are the overall implementation of MDM into the enterprise. The Architect also sets up the infrastructure and connections to other enterprise information systems. In your organization, you might call this role an MDM Designer, Solution Architect, or Enterprise Architect.
Database Administrator The Database Administrator (DBA) ensures the performance of data-related components, including the security of data and the availability of databases. Your organization might refer to this role as the Lead Operations DBA, Enterprise DBA, or Data Warehouse DBA.
System Administrator The System Administrator manages and maintains the IT environment for MDM and its operations management tools, including system administration, networking, and backup. The System Administrator also typically maintains various components and frameworks for reuse within other solutions. In your organization, this role might correspond to the IT Administrator or Metadata Administrator.
Solution Developer The Solution Developer uses specifications that are created by Architects to build the MDM system. In your organization, you might call this role a Senior Consultant or Development Manager.
Table 2. Governance (Data Stewardship) roles
Role Description
Basic Data Steward The Basic Data Steward manages information quality for one or more subject areas of the business. This role typically resolves data issues for such things as company names and addresses by validating values against third-party sources. In your organization, the Data Steward role might correspond to an Agent or a Customer Service Representative.
Advanced Data Steward The Advanced Data Steward resolves identity resolution issues, such as deduplication, maintains hierarchies, and develops business rules. This role typically investigates data questions and analyzes the data to identify trends and to improve business processes. This role coordinates access authorization and planning for the subject area data. In your organization, you might call this role a Business Analyst, Data Analyst, or Line-of-Business User. This role sometimes overlaps with the Enterprise Use of Master Data roles.
Data Steward Manager The Data Steward Manager manages a team of Basic and Advanced Data Stewards to ensure that quality goals are met for the organization. This role reviews data quality reports and develops standard operating procedures for the team. This role might develop business rules and perform data stewardship tasks also.
Master Data Governance Council The Council is a cross-functional, multi-layer team that collectively owns master data. The council steers master data management initiatives at the program level. In your organization, they might include the Director of Governance Quality Board, the Data Standards Program Lead, and other business roles.
Table 3. Enterprise Use of Master Data roles
Role Description
Business Analyst The Business Analyst provides the analysis to enable the business integration of the MDM application into the enterprise. The Business Analyst understands customer and business needs and identifies areas where business processes can be optimized to better serve those needs. In your organization, you might call this role a Data Analyst, Subject Matter Expert, or Information Analyst.
Business User The Business User uses the content of enterprise information to achieve business goals. Your organization might refer to the Business User as an Information User, Report User, or Application User.
Table 4. MDM-Powered Applications roles
Role Description
Application Developer The Application Developer augments MDM to meet the requirements of the business with additions, extensions, and so forth. The Application Developer performs development tasks to integrate MDM into the enterprise. In your organization, this role might correspond to a Software Engineer, Software Programmer, or Data Integration Developer.


Last updated: 27 June 2014