Framework and Research Agenda for Master Data Management in Distributed Environments

Abstract

Master data is the foundation for relating business transactions with business entities such as customers, products, locations etc. These entities are also referred to as domains in master data literature. The integrity, availability and timeliness of master data in single-, and growingly in multi-domain combinations is crucial in eBusiness transactions over the Internet, or in the cloud for multiple stakeholders. Distributed environments set additional challenges for the management of master data. In this idea paper, we first describe master data, management processes, responsibilities and other contemporary master data management practices aiming to ensure master data quality in different domains. Even though these practical means are of help in improving master data quality and managing master data, they are insufficient to capture the underlying root cause of master data problems. We then look into master data management from the IS theoretical viewpoint and finally propose a research agenda for most critical issues in master data management. We suggest that holistic approaches such as enterprise architecting, stakeholder analysis, or business modeling could serve as coherent frameworks in identifying common and specific master data management research themes for global businesses with networked IT environments.