Master Data Management (MDM) programs often start with the analysis of the available technology and products but not the business problem they tend to solve. Three primary categories of MDM benefits are operational efficiency, better business intelligence, and regulatory compliance. The following are ten things one can do now to prepare the organization for  MDM initiative:

• Set goals and success criteria.

• Prepare a business case.

• Build a governance process.

• Choose the first subject areas to attack.

• Carry a data inventory.

• Recognize executive sponsorship.

• Identify business champions.

• Set up an educational forum.

• Educate yourself about products and approaches.

• Develop a business model of the data to be handled.

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