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8 CHAPTER 2 Definitions and concepts

Data Management (DM)

According to the DMBOK, data management is:
1. The business function that develops and executes plans, policies, practices, and projects that
acquire, control, protect, deliver, and enhance the value of data and information.
2. A program for implementation and performance of the data management function.
3. The field of disciplines required to perform the data management function.
4. The profession of individuals who perform data management disciplines.
5. In some cases, a synonym for a data management services organization that performs data
management activities.
6. i

Within the context of DG, the reader needs to latch onto these key terms embedded in this definition:
• Business FunctiondTwenty-first–century business and beyond requires organizations to stop
looking at data, information, etc., as a convenience. As this book was being written, the author
counted four news stories in technology and business publications where mishandling of data
ii
had cost business or government organizations enormous sums of money.
• Program–Data/InformationdDG is not a project with a discreet start or end point. Once initiated, it
needs to operate under a “going concern” concept. Other forms of governance, such as regulatory
compliance, are permanent structures. DG is the same.
• DisciplinedGovernance, by its very definition, implies a predetermined rigor. In the early days of
computer applications development, new systems analysts often asked, “How do we enforce
standards?” The word “enforce” was considered too harsh at the time. Frankly, however,
governance is a process that, in part, has an enforcement componentdfollow the rules, maintain
discipline, or expect consequences.

The key concept to take away here is that there is a disciplined, formal process to manage data. This is
the beginning requirement.

Enterprise Information Management

The DMBOK definition of DM or IM is generic and does require some clarification when talking about
an enterprise-level program. This is because, historically, formal data or information management
turns out to be a localized function. Any IT group can be more disciplined with information within
a specific application or business function. However, in this book the term enterprise information
management (EIM) is reserved solely for an enterprise-level program. Therefore, we need to have
a separate definition and concept.
EIM is the program that manages enterprise information assets to support the business and improve
value. EIM manages the plans, policies, principles, frameworks, technologies, organizations, people,
and processes in an enterprise toward the goal of maximizing the investment in data and content.

i
Mosely, Mark, Editor, “The DAMA Dictionary of Data Management,” New Jersey, Technics Publications, LLC, 2008.
ii
Extracts from CNN, The Wall Street Journal for August 20–22, 2011. California state medical privacy breach, German
Facebook discussion.