Activities

  1. Assess external standards.
    • Check whether each CDO matches, or could match, a definition from an industry authority or regulator.
  2. Check enterprise-canonical fit.
    • Check if the CDO exists in the data catalogue or if modifying one fits better than creating a new one.
  3. Categorise & prioritise.
    • External Standard CDOs: give top priority; align all business processes to these where possible.
    • Enterprise Canonical CDOs: next level of alignment; ensure consistency across domains.
    • Bespoke CDOs: use only when no standard or canonical option exists; keep their scope limited and subject to regular review.

Objective

Reduce bespoke concepts, maximise reuse of standards, and create single agreed definitions.

Outcome

A streamlined set of data objects with clear, standardised definitions, ready for use across the organisation.

Key Stakeholders

  • Data Governance Council — Reviews and approves standard definitions.
  • SMEs — Identify overlaps and propose standardisation.
  • Enterprise Architects — Drive alignment across domains and systems.
  • Business Analysts — Document definitions and spot gaps.
  • Compliance / Regulatory Team — Confirm alignment with external standards.