Metadata Solutions: Using Metamodels, Repositories, XML, and Enterprise Portals to Generate Information on Demand (Paperback)

Metadata is increasingly central to enterprise IT architecture, and to applications ranging from data warehousing to CRM. Finally, there's a comprehensive, start-to-finish guide to implementing metadata solutions. Leading data management consultant Adrienne Tannenbaum covers the real issues associated with bringing together data from multiple sources, identifies the key challenges to building effective metadata systems, and presents practical solutions. Tannenbaum begins by focusing on data, its relationship to knowledge, why it is so hard to locate, and how metadata can help. She reviews the key elements of a metadata solution, including metamodels, metadata stores, and repositories, and presents a complete methodology for planning and implementing a metadata solution. She reviews non-technical factors such as readiness and scoping, as well as technical issues such as architecture, exchange, and presentation. Tannenbaum compares today's leading metadata approaches and solutions, including solutions that leave metadata in place, accessing it through a common portal or gateway, as well as solutions that centralize metadata. The book concludes with a thorough discussion of managing metadata solutions and maintaining metadata quality. Throughout, Tannenbaum presents extensive real-world examples and case studies garnered from her extensive consulting experience.

"The book you are about to read is the essential guide, for once and for all making metadata management an intrinsic, immutable part of today's and tomorrow's information systems."
--Alan Simon, Deloitte Consulting, Data Warehousing Solutions Group

With the advent of data warehousing and the growing importance of data access through the Internet, it is essential for all IT professionals to be familiar with metadata. Written by one of the world's foremost information technology experts, Metadata Solutions is a practical guide to understanding and using metadata as a gateway to information. This book serves as a blueprint for designing and implementing a metadata solution that effectively handles information access and exchange within and across organizations.

Metadata Solutions offers an enlightening overview of the role of metadata within current IT trends. The author provides detailed treatment of metadata, metamodels, meta-metadata, and meta-metamodel concepts and structures. She offers in-depth descriptions of specific metadata-based technologies and standards, featuring the benefits and drawbacks of each. With a practical approach, this book presents step-by-step instructions for implementing and maintaining a metadata solution, and provides sample solutions appropriate for a variety of informational needs and circumstances. Most important, it serves as a guide for organizations that are coping with metadata.

Coverage includes the following specific topics:

• A review of conventional approaches to information definition, design, and access (data modeling, databases, data warehousing)
• A renewed perspective on previous attempts at data management
• Identification and organization of metadata requirements without setting up yet another database
• Examination of vendor, standard, and custom metamodels
• The meta-metamodel and the impact of extensibility
• Metadata solution components, including stores and displays
• Types of metadata solutions, including repositories, XML-based exchange, and enterprise portals
• The metadata roles and standards of today and tomorrow
• Information about metadata security
• Organizational structures for creating, managing, and maintaining the metadata solution
• Ways to expand existing metadata solutions
• Sample metadata solution implementations

Numerous case studies, drawn from extensive industry experience, illustrate real-world applications of metadata techniques and concepts. A typical metadata disaster scenario, with associated implementation examples, will help you identify ways to avoid common pitfalls. With this book as your guide, you will be well prepared to explore, choose, implement, and maintain a metadata solution to transform your organization's data into a more accessible and valuable resource.