Metadata is a category of information that identifies, describes, explains, and provides content, context, structure, and classifications pertaining to an organization’s data assets and enables e ective retrieval, usage, and management of these assets.
The metadata developed by an organization is the mechanism allowing data asset knowledge to be established and enhanced over time. Effective metadata management and the creation of the organization’s metadata catalog facilitates, supports, and contributes to achievement of critical data management activities and objectives, which include the following:
- Data architecture
- Data requirements
- Data lineage
- Data lifecycle management Historical data
- Records retention Data archiving Data integration Data provenance Data standards.
Metadata contains three categories:
Business Metadata: Descriptive information used to understand, search, locate, and control content that can include elements such as terms, definitions, values, authors, keywords, and publishers. Business metadata may also include business domains, related subject areas, business rules, and data quality rules, all of which should be developed for the business glossary. Business metadata is the foundation for mapping to related metadata artifacts such as taxonomies, ontologies, business glossaries, and standards.
Technical Metadata: Describes data assets instantiated in the physical data layer as well as their transformations through automated processes. It describes the content and location of data stores and interfaces, including information about tables, field structures, data types, columns, links to related files, indexes, etc. Technical metadata consists of the following subcategories: 1) run-time or dynamic metadata (examples include configuration information, messaging, and XML) and 2) design-time or static metadata (examples include physical data models, DDL, data dictionary, and ETL scripts).
Operational Metadata: Provides administrative information to manage a data asset and includes information such as when it was created; the file type; purpose of the data; information needed for archival, integration, and update of schedules; and access rights and entitlement restrictions. The administrative metadata related
to governance and stewardship is included under Operational Metadata. This is descriptive information used to understand the roles of the individuals involved in governing the data. It identifies governance bodies and their scope, process, partic- ipants, structure, and responsibilities; and is used to manage change to all types of metadata. In addition, operational metadata is used for process improvements to enhance productivity and improve data quality.
Process metadata, a subcategory of operational metadata, addresses process steps for production and maintenance, as well as for data quality measurement and analysis. Business rules; names of relevant systems, jobs, and programs; as well as gover-
nance and regulatory roles and other control requirements are examples of process metadata.