London Borough of Camden: Data Management Resources

Transforming Master Data Management at London Borough of Camden

Master Data Management plays a vital role in centralising and managing an organisation’s critical data assets. This case study focuses on how Data Architecture was used to address the challenges faced by the London Borough of Camden and how Certes implemented a robust Master Data Management solution. The objective was to transition from a limited “Registry” implementation to a comprehensive “Coexistence” model, enabling the London Borough of Camden to share and manage its master data more efficiently.

Problem Statement:

The London Borough of Camden’s existing IBM Master Data Management implementation was deemed inadequate due to its limited functionality and inability to address the organisation’s evolving data management needs. The company faced issues with incomplete and inconsistent master data scattered across multiple siloed applications. The goal was to create a centralised system for managing and sharing the London Borough of Camden’s master data, improving data quality and integrity.

Work Undertaken:

Data Architecture has a big influence on the design and implementation of the new Master Data Management solution which involved:

  1. Conceptual Data Model for Master Data Management: Developed a high-level representation of the data entities and their relationships within the Master Data Management solution.
  2. Enterprise-wide Conceptual Data Model: Created a holistic conceptual data model encompassing London Borough of Camden’s entire data landscape, going beyond the scope of Master Data Management.
  3. Logical (ERD) Data Model for Master Data Management: Constructed a detailed logical data model utilising Entity-Relationship Diagrams (ERDs) to define the structure of data within the Master Data Management solution.
  4. Data Dictionary: Established a comprehensive data dictionary to standardise data definitions and ensure consistent understanding across the organisation.
  5. UML Class Design Model for Master Data Management: Utilised Unified Modeling Language (UML) to design a full class model for the Master Data Management solution, outlining the structure and behaviour of classes.
  6. Use Case Model: Developed a comprehensive use case model capturing all the core functions required for Master Data Management, ensuring alignment with business requirements.
  7. Business Process Models: Created a set of business process models, including governance processes specific to Master Data Management, to streamline data management workflows.
  8. Reverse Engineered Class Model: Generated a reverse-engineered class model as part of the Golden Thread project, enabling a holistic view of data relationships across the organisation.
  9. Information Asset Register (IAR) Template: Designed a new template for London Borough of Camden’s Information Asset Register, facilitating the population of essential metadata and improving data governance.

Work Completion:

The work is still ongoing; however, the following steps have been initiated:

  1. Agile Kanban Board: Implemented an Agile Kanban board to track and manage tasks related to the Master Data Management solution.
  2. Modelling Software: Leveraged industry-standard modelling software, such as Visual Paradigm, to create the necessary data models and visual representations.
  3. Workshops and Collaboration: Conducted workshops involving key business stakeholders, including CRM teams, Data Discovery teams, and the Golden Thread team, to elicit data requirements and define master data sets. Collaborated with Business Analysts, Technical Architects, and Product Owners to verify the accuracy and completeness of the data models.
  4. Centralised Knowledge Sharing: Established a central webpage in Confluence to publish and share the progress and deliverables of the Master Data Management project.
  5. Definition of Master Data: Developed a common understanding of master data within the organisation, including a set of criteria for identifying master data elements.

Results and Benefits

The organisation is already experiencing the benefits of hosting workshops where the models are being developed and shared. These workshops provided an opportunity for key business stakeholders to contribute and reach a consensus on the necessary data sets for Master Data Management. The visualisation of data in model formats is driving valuable conversations and facilitating important decision-making within the business. These innovative models are introducing a new perspective for The London Borough of Camden. In this early stage, thorough understanding and documentation of key design artefacts and requirements for the new Master Data Management solution are being prioritised before seeking a best-in-class, fit-for-purpose solution in the market.