Alex Berson - Master Data Management and Data Governance

This is a great book about MDM and its impact on our businesses, governments, and in many ways most of our lives. Written in a simple and effective style, it tells the story of how Master Data Management works, what it does, and why we should care very much how it is governed. If you have any interest in MDM, data or information governance, read this book.

Steven B. Adler, CIPP IBM Information Governance Solutions

In this book, Alex Berson and Larry Dubov convey the many facets of the value of adopting Master Data Management techniques while ably articulating an implementation roadmap. By maintaining the need to incorporate business process modeling, master data modeling, master metadata management, and data governance, the authors properly frame the necessary ideas for organizational preparation while still providing deep technical detail about both architecture and algorithms. This book is a definite addition to the MDM body of knowledge.

David Loshin President, Knowledge Integrity Incorporated

Alex and Larry have done it again: published a very comprehensive, highly applicable book on MDM and data governance that achieves an excellent balance between thought-provoking academic treatment of some very technical subjects, and highly relevant, usable advice on how to achieve success in implementing a successful MDM and data governance program. This is a must-read for any program sponsor, CIO, CTO, enterprise architect, information architect, data steward, program manager, or practitioner of MDM and data governance. This is not a read-and-forget book, but a great reference manual.

Martin Moseley Chief Architect, CTO, Information Agenda Tiger Team IBM Software Group

This work is one of the most comprehensive, clear, well-researched, and insightful guidebooks on Master Data Management and data governance. Larry and Alex did an exceptional job covering these complex topics from many viewpoints, including technical, business, architectural, security, industry, social, international, product, and regulatory perspectives. I was so impressed at the level of detail and how much is in this book. The book covers critical principles, concepts, emerging trends, and misconceptions, based upon the authors extensive experience and research, and clarifies keys in creating successful MDM and data governance programs.

Len Silverston Best-selling author of The Data Model Resource Book, Volumes 1, 2, and 3

Clearly, Alex Berson and Larry Dubov were hard at work tackling the tough topic of master data governance before the software vendor community had yet found religion (as the market now has active, passive, and my favorite passive-aggressive data governance flavors among the many marketing variations).

Aaron Zornes Chief Research Officer The MDM Institute, San Francisco

About the Authors

Alex Berson is an internationally recognized expert, thought leader, author, and advisor in various areas of information technologies. Throughout his professional career, Alex held leadership technology and management positions in companies such as BearingPoint, Entrust, Merrill Lynch, enCommerce, Dun & Bradstreet, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Solomon Smith Barney, and others. Hes currently a chief technology architect for a major global financial services institution.

Alex holds graduate and postgraduate degrees in Applied Math and Computer Sciences and has an extensive scientific background in applied research with specific concentration on advanced areas of algorithmic computations, linear programing, computer simulations, and computing architectures. He taught undergraduate and graduate classes and lectured on these topics throughout his career.

Alex combines his extensive scientific background and practical industry experience by focusing his professional activities on advanced multi-disciplined areas of information technology such as Identity Management and Information Security; Master Data Management (MDM) and Customer Data Integration (CDI); CRM and Business Intelligence; Database technologies, including Column-store and very large databases (VLDB); data warehousing and data mining; service-oriented architecture (SOA); mobile computing; enterprise application integration (EAI), messaging, and middleware. Throughout his career, Alex has continued to successfully apply his knowledge, experience, and vision to creating complex ground-breaking solutions for financial services, manufacturing, pharmaceutical and technology industries.

Alex is a member of the Board of Directors of the Wall Street Technology Association (WSTA) and is a member of Standard & Poors Vista Research Society of Industrial Leaders (SIL). He actively participates in professional associations such as IEEE Computer Society, ACM, and Aberdeen Groups Technology Forecasting Consortium; standards organizations including OMG, OASIS, Open Group; various industry consortia such as the Data Warehousing Institute (TDWI), and technical advisory boards of several technology companies.

Alex has published numerous direction-setting technical articles in trade magazines and online publications, and is the author and coauthor of a number of best-selling professional books, including Master Data Management and Data Governance; Master Data Management and Customer Data Integration for a Global Enterprise; Building Data Mining Applications for CRM; Data Warehousing, Data Mining and OLAP; Client/Server Architecture; SYBASE and Client/Server Computing; and APPC: Introduction to LU6.2.

Dr. Lawrence Dubov (Larry) is a recognized scientist, expert and thought leader in the implementation of complex business-driven technology solutions for financial services, banking, telecommunications, and pharmaceutical verticals, with the primary focus on Master Data Management (MDM), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), data warehousing, operational data stores, and service-oriented architecture. He has gained both depth and breadth of technical knowledge in multiple areas of Master Data Management, including data and solution architecture, matching technologies, customer-centric data transformations, data stewardship, and applications of information theory and advanced statistical methods to information quality. He has developed a strong holistic vision of the MDM problem domain and Master Data Governance implementation methodology based on practical experience gained through successful project implementations. He is an internationally recognized speaker and writer on the topics of Master Data Management and information management, quality, and governance. Larry has authored over 110 publications, with a recent focus on advanced mathematical methods in data governance, master data modeling, MDM roadmap development, business case definition, and accelerators for high complexity MDM programs and projects. In 2007 he coauthored a definitive book on MDM, Master Data Management and Customer Data Integration for a Global Enterprise.

Larry has held senior technology and management positions with IBM, Initiate Systems, Inc., and consulting companies, including BearingPoint and FutureNext ZYGA. Larry formerly worked as an independent consultant for a number of companies across various industry verticals. The list of Larrys clients includes but is not limited to Fortune 1000 companies and established mid-size organizations, such as Merrill Lynch, Bessemer Trust, Washington Mutual, Cenlar Bank, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Hoffmann La Roche, Aventis, Este Lauder, AT&T, Daimler-Benz.

Larry spent two years at Princeton University as a visiting research scientist working on mathematical models for optimal control of molecular processes. Earlier, during his career in Russia, he gained a strong scientific background with Ph.D. and Dr. Sci. degrees in Mathematical Physics.