Why Your Data Catalog Might Be a Road to Nowhere

Imagine you've built a magnificent highway. It's wide, smooth, and designed for all types of vehicles – from tiny smart cars to massive semi-trucks. Sounds great, right?

But there's a catch.

The on-ramp to this highway is so narrow that only the smallest cars can squeeze through. And once you're on the highway? There's no exit ramp at all.

Not very useful, is it? Moreover, isn’t it a little absurd??

This is exactly what often happens with many data catalog implementations.?

Let‘s break it down:

1. The First Mile Problem: Getting the Right Data In

Most catalogs make it easy to import technical metadata. If you have well-structured data models with clear naming conventions, you're golden. That's your small car on the highway.

But here's where it gets tricky. The real value comes from connecting business metadata to technical metadata. That’s a large semi loaded with valuable cargo you want on your highway.?

This process often requires manual input from busy business stakeholders. While everyone agrees it's important, it rarely gets the attention it deserves.

Many organizations moving to Agile are making the matters worse.?

In the waterfall days, we had detailed requirements documents that often included data definitions. But with Agile, many companies have swung too far in the other direction (and completely missing the point of Agile, but that’s a different newsletter), documenting only the bare minimum in user stories.

The result? We're actually losing valuable information that could be used to create robust business definitions in our catalogs especially with newly developed AI capabilities.

2. The Last Mile Problem: Making the Catalog Useful

Let's say you've solved the first problem. You've got all your data – technical and business – neatly organized in your catalog. Great job! But we're not done yet.

The next challenge is making sure people actually use it. This is our missing exit ramp.

Most catalogs are implemented as standalone tools. If you haven't thought about how to connect them to existing business processes, they'll sit unused. It's like having a beautiful highway that no one can get off of – what's the point of the journey if you can't reach your destination?

We all know what happens to unused data capabilities – they wither and die.

So, what's the solution?

1. Focus on Business Metadata: If you can't figure out how to sustainably get valuable business information into your catalog, don't even start.
2. Integration is Key: Plan how you'll connect your catalog to people's daily work. It needs to be part of their regular routines, not a separate tool they have to remember to use.

Remember, a data catalog isn't a "set it and forget it" tool. It needs constant attention and care to truly provide value. So carefully weigh all your options before making it the linchpin of your data roadmap.

A well-implemented data catalog can be a powerful asset, driving efficiency and smarter decision-making across your organization. But to get there, you need to ensure you're not just building a road to nowhere.

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