What are the benefits and challenges of using metadata standards in IT consulting?

1 Improve data quality and consistency

One of the benefits of using metadata standards is that they can improve the quality and consistency of data across different platforms and projects. Metadata standards can help IT consultants and their clients define the meaning, structure, format, and validity of data, as well as the relationships and dependencies among data elements. By following metadata standards, IT consultants can ensure that data are accurate, complete, and reliable, and that they can be reused and exchanged without errors or ambiguities.

2 Enhance data discovery and access

Another benefit of using metadata standards is that they can enhance the discovery and access of data by IT consultants and their clients. Metadata standards can help IT consultants and their clients create and maintain data catalogs, which are inventories of data assets and their metadata. Data catalogs can help IT consultants and their clients find, understand, and use data for various purposes, such as business intelligence, analytics, reporting, or compliance. Data catalogs can also facilitate data governance, which is the process of managing the availability, usability, security, and quality of data.

3 Support data interoperability and integration

A third benefit of using metadata standards is that they can support the interoperability and integration of data from different sources and systems. Metadata standards can help IT consultants and their clients establish common vocabularies, formats, protocols, and interfaces for data exchange and communication. By using metadata standards, IT consultants can help their clients harmonize and link data from disparate domains, such as finance, marketing, operations, or customer service. This can enable IT consultants and their clients to leverage data for cross-functional insights and decision making.

4 Require data management skills and resources

One of the challenges of using metadata standards is that they require IT consultants and their clients to have adequate data management skills and resources. Metadata standards can be complex, diverse, and evolving, depending on the type, scope, and purpose of data. IT consultants and their clients need to have the knowledge and expertise to select, implement, and maintain appropriate metadata standards for their data needs and goals. They also need to have the tools and infrastructure to create, store, update, and share metadata and data catalogs.

5 Involve data coordination and collaboration

Another challenge of using metadata standards is that they involve data coordination and collaboration among IT consultants and their clients. Metadata standards can affect how data are produced, consumed, and shared by different stakeholders, such as data owners, data users, data stewards, or data regulators. IT consultants and their clients need to have clear roles and responsibilities, as well as effective communication and feedback mechanisms, for managing metadata and data catalogs. They also need to have common policies and procedures for ensuring data quality, security, privacy, and compliance.

6 Depend on data context and use cases

A final challenge of using metadata standards is that they depend on the context and use cases of data. Metadata standards are not one-size-fits-all solutions, but rather flexible and adaptable frameworks that can be customized and tailored to specific data scenarios and requirements. IT consultants and their clients need to consider the characteristics, sources, formats, and purposes of their data, as well as the needs, expectations, and preferences of their data audiences. They also need to evaluate the costs, benefits, and trade-offs of using different metadata standards for their data projects.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?