Business Metadata: Capturing Enterprise Knowledge

Article Type: Book reports From: Kybernetes, Volume 38, Issue 1/2

William H. Inmon, Bonnie O’Neil and Lowell Fryman,Morgan Kaufmann,2007,£29.99,ISBN 978-0-12-373726-7,

Provides a new view of metadata and widens the usual concept which often restricts its meaning. It begin by providing definitions of metadata and differentiates between “technical” and “business” metadata This involves, discussion of how metadata is designed and how it is represented.

The first chapters concentrate on business metadata with a: look at its relationship with the business and whether it is a worthwhile investment. Then six chapters consider some of the options available and how business metadata can be integrated into management.

There is a final chapter on knowledge management. Some reviewers have reservations about the presentation of this final one. It is an attempt to link the technical and the business metadata groupings and it does suggest some common areas that may well be worth investigating.