CDMP-RMD DAMA Reference And Master Data Management Exam Free Practice Exam Questions (2025 Updated)

The centralized style is the easiest MDM style to implement data governance because it consolidates all master data into a single central repository. This centralization simplifies the application of data governance controls, ensuring consistent data quality, standards, and policies are applied across the organization.

References:

DMBOK (Data Management Body of Knowledge), 2nd Edition, Chapter 11: Reference & Master Data Management.

Master Data Management and Data Governance by Alex Berson and Larry Dubov.

Probabilistic matching algorithms assign a score based on the weight and degree of match, assign weights to variables based on their discriminating power, and use individual attribute matching scores to create a match probability percentage. Additionally, after the matching process, some records typically require manual review and decisioning to ensure accuracy. Therefore, all provided characteristics describe the nature of probabilistic matching algorithms accurately.

References:

DAMA-DMBOK: Data Management Body of Knowledge (2nd Edition), Chapter 11: Reference and Master Data Management.

"Master Data Management and Data Governance" by Alex Berson and Larry Dubov

The registry style is the most difficult MDM style to implement data governance due to its reliance on maintaining a central registry of master data without consolidating data physically. This method makes it challenging to ensure consistent governance across disparate systems since data remains distributed and only loosely connected via the registry.

References:

DMBOK (Data Management Body of Knowledge), 2nd Edition, Chapter 11: Reference & Master Data Management.

Master Data Management: Creating a Single Source of Truth by David Loshin.

Master data represents the critical business information that is used across the organization. It provides context and structure for business transactions and analytical processes.

Data about Business Entities:

Master data typically includes key entities such as customers, products, suppliers, employees, and locations.

These entities are fundamental to business operations and provide the necessary context for transactions and analysis.

Providing Context for Business Transactions:

Master data provides the foundational information required to conduct business transactions.

For example, customer master data is used in sales transactions, while product master data is used in inventory management.

Supporting Business Analysis:

Master data is critical for business intelligence and analytics, providing a consistent and accurate view of the core business entities.

It enables effective reporting, analysis, and decision-making by ensuring that the data used in these processes is reliable and standardized.

Other Options:

A: Master data and reference data are distinct; reference data is used to categorize master data.

B: Master data is not necessarily mastered by business users but involves collaboration between IT and business stakeholders.

C: Provides visibility but also context for transactions and analysis.

E: Master data is about business entities, not technical entities.

Deterministic matching is a method of record linkage that relies on exact matching criteria. This means that records are considered a match if certain key fields (e.g., name, Social Security Number) have exactly the same values. Exact string match is a straightforward example of deterministic matching, where the strings in specific fields must be identical for a match to be declared. Other methods like sorted neighborhood, regional frequency, editing distance, and phonetic matching are probabilistic or heuristic approaches that allow for some degree of variation or error in the data.

References:

DAMA-DMBOK2 Guide: Chapter 10 – Master and Reference Data Management

"Entity Resolution and Information Quality" by John R. Talburt

A global identifier is used to link multiple references to the same entity across different systems or datasets. Here’s why:

Purpose of Global Identifier:

Unique Identification: Provides a unique identifier that can be used to recognize the same entity across disparate systems and datasets.

Consistency: Ensures that different references or records pointing to the same entity are consistently identified and managed.

Linking Equivalent References:

Equivalent References: Global identifiers link references that are equivalent, meaning they represent the same real-world entity even if the data is stored differently in various systems.

Entity Resolution: Helps in resolving different records to a single entity, ensuring data consistency and accuracy.

Example:

Customer Records: A customer might be listed in different systems (CRM, billing, support) with slightly different details. A global identifier links these records to recognize them as the same customer.

References:

Data Management Body of Knowledge (DMBOK), Chapter 7: Master Data Management

DAMA International, "The DAMA Guide to the Data Management Body of Knowledge (DMBOK)"

Tracking the number of MDM subject areas and source system attributes refers to defining the scope and coverage of the subject areas and attributes involved in an MDM initiative. This process includes identifying all the data entities (subject areas) and the specific attributes (data elements) within those entities that need to be managed across the organization. By establishing a clear scope and coverage, organizations can ensure that all relevant data is accounted for and appropriately managed.

References:

DAMA-DMBOK2 Guide: Chapter 10 – Master and Reference Data Management

"Master Data Management and Data Governance" by Alex Berson, Larry Dubov

ISO 22745 is an international standard for defining and exchanging master data.

ISO 22745:

This standard specifies the requirements for the exchange of master data, particularly in industrial and manufacturing contexts.

It includes guidelines for the structured exchange of information, ensuring that data can be shared and understood across different systems and organizations.

Standards for Master Data:

Standards like ISO 22745 help ensure consistency, interoperability, and data quality across different platforms and entities.

They provide a common framework for defining and exchanging master data, facilitating smoother data integration and management processes.

Other Options:

ETL:Refers to the process of Extract, Transform, Load, used in data integration but not a standard for defining master data.

Corporation-specific Methods:Many organizations may have their own methods, but standardized frameworks like ISO 22745 provide a common foundation.

No Standards:While not all organizations use master data, standards do exist for those that do.

Reference data and master data serve different purposes within an organization, and storing them in separate repositories can be beneficial for managing them effectively.

Reference Data:

Reference data is used to classify or categorize other data. Examples include code tables, taxonomies, and standard lists like country codes or industry classifications.

It is often less volatile and has a higher degree of standardization.

Master Data:

Master data refers to the core business entities that are essential for operations, such as customers, products, employees, and suppliers.

It is often more dynamic and requires frequent updates to ensure accuracy and consistency across systems.

Separate Repositories:

Storing reference and master data in separate repositories allows for tailored management strategies, governance, and security measures suited to their specific needs.

This approach can improve performance, data quality, and accessibility by reducing complexity and focusing resources on maintaining each type of data appropriately.

The Reference Data Change Request Process typically involves the following sub-processes:

Receive Change Request:

Initiation: The process begins with the receipt of a change request, formally logged and acknowledged.

Identify Stakeholder:

Stakeholder Identification: Identifying all relevant stakeholders who need to be involved or informed about the change.

Identify Impact:

Impact Analysis: Assessing the potential impact of the requested change on existing systems, processes, and data.

Decide and Communicate:

Decision Making: Reviewing the change request, making a decision, and communicating the outcome to stakeholders.

Excluded Step - Monitor Database Change: While monitoring database changes is important for overall data management, it is not typically part of the specific change request process for reference data. This step pertains more to ongoing operational monitoring rather than the change request workflow.

References:

Data Management Body of Knowledge (DMBOK), Chapter 6: Data Development & Maintenance

DAMA International, "The DAMA Guide to the Data Management Body of Knowledge (DMBOK)"

Entity resolution is a critical step in the MDM process that identifies whether different data records refer to the same real-world entity. This ensures that each entity is uniquely represented within the master data repository.

Data Model Management:

Focuses on defining and maintaining data models that describe the structure, relationships, and constraints of the data.

Data Acquisition:

Involves gathering and bringing data into the MDM system but does not deal with resolving entities.

Entity Resolution:

This process involves matching and linking records from different sources that refer to the same entity. Techniques such as deterministic matching (based on exact matches) and probabilistic matching (based on similarity scores) are used.

Entity resolution helps in deduplication and ensuring a single, unified view of each entity within the MDM system.

Data Sharing & Stewardship:

Focuses on managing data access and ensuring that data is shared responsibly and accurately.

Data Validation, Standardization, and Enrichment:

Ensures data quality by validating, standardizing, and enriching data but does not directly address entity resolution.

Reference and Master Data Management (RMDM) governance processes are designed to manage and ensure the accuracy, consistency, and quality of critical data assets across an organization. These processes focus on defining, maintaining, and governing the shared data entities and attributes that are essential for various business processes. One of the key aspects governed by RMDM is "Data change activity."

Reference and Master Data Definition:

Reference data is a subset of master data used to classify or categorize other data within an organization. It typically includes codes and descriptions.

Master data refers to the critical business information regarding the core entities around which business is conducted, such as customers, products, employees, and suppliers.

Data Change Activity:

This involves tracking and managing the changes made to master and reference data over time. The governance processes ensure that any changes to this data are properly authorized, recorded, and communicated to relevant stakeholders.

Managing data change activity includes monitoring modifications, updates, additions, and deletions of reference and master data.

Importance in Governance:

Effective governance of data change activity ensures that the integrity and quality of master data are maintained. It prevents unauthorized changes that could lead to data inconsistencies and inaccuracies.

It supports audit trails and compliance with regulatory requirements by providing transparency and accountability for data changes.

Authoritative listings of master data entities are essential for ensuring data accuracy and consistency across an organization.

Canonical Directories:

This term refers to standardized data models but is not typically used to describe authoritative listings of master data entities.

Entity Directories:

While this term could be used, it is not the most accurate or commonly used term for authoritative listings.

Reference Directories:

Reference directories are authoritative lists of master data entities such as companies, people, and products. They provide standardized, trusted, and verified data that organizations can rely on.

These directories ensure that everyone in the organization uses consistent and accurate data, supporting data quality and governance efforts.

Industry Directories:

These directories provide information specific to an industry but are not necessarily authoritative lists of master data entities.

Source Directories:

This term does not specifically refer to authoritative master data listings.

Definitions and Context:

Reference Data Dictionaries: These are authoritative resources that provide standardized definitions and classifications for data elements.

External Sources of Data: These are data sources that come from outside the organization and are used for various analytical and operational purposes.

Explanation:

Reference Data Dictionaries often contain listings and definitions for data that are used across different organizations and systems, ensuring consistency and interoperability.

They typically include external data sources, which need to be standardized and understood in the context of the organization’s own data environment.

References:

DAMA-DMBOK: Data Management Body of Knowledge, 2nd Edition, Chapter 11: Master and Reference Data Management.

ISO/IEC 11179-3:2013, Information technology - Metadata registries (MDR) - Part 3: Registry metamodel and basic attributes.

Reference data can be structured in various ways depending on its granularity and complexity.

Simple List:

Reference data can be a simple list when it involves basic, discrete values such as country codes or product categories.

Cross-Reference:

When reference data needs to map values between different systems or standards, it can be structured as cross-references. For example, mapping old product codes to new ones.

Taxonomy:

For more complex hierarchical relationships, reference data can be structured as a taxonomy. This involves categorizing data into parent-child relationships, like an organizational hierarchy or biological classification.

Several factors can deter a company from developing a master data program, including the perceived value, commitment level, disruption, and data quality priorities.

Fail to See Value in Integrating Their Data:

If a company does not recognize the benefits of integrating and managing master data, it may not invest in an MDM program.

Lack of Commitment:

Developing an effective MDM program requires long-term commitment from leadership and stakeholders. Without this commitment, the program is unlikely to succeed.

The Process is Too Disruptive:

Implementing an MDM program can be disruptive to existing processes and systems. The perceived disruption can deter companies from pursuing it.

Data Quality is Not a Priority:

If a company does not prioritize data quality, it may not see the need for a robust MDM program. Poor data quality can undermine the effectiveness of business processes and decision-making.

Master Data Management (MDM) lifecycle management encompasses the processes and practices involved in managing master data throughout its lifecycle, from creation to retirement. It ensures that master data remains accurate, consistent, and usable.

Reconciling and Consolidating Data:

This process involves merging data from multiple sources to create a single, unified view of each master data entity.

It ensures that duplicate records are identified and consolidated, maintaining data consistency.

Identifying Multiple Instances of the Same Entity:

This involves detecting and resolving duplicate records to ensure that each master data entity is uniquely represented.

Tools and algorithms are used to identify potential duplicates based on matching criteria.

Identifying Improperly Matched or Merged Instances of Data:

This step involves reviewing and correcting any errors that occurred during the matching or merging process.

Ensures that data integrity is maintained and that merged records accurately represent the underlying entities.

Maintaining Cross-References to Enable Information Integration:

Cross-references link related data entities across different systems, enabling seamless information integration.

This ensures that data can be consistently accessed and used across the organization.

Establishing Recovery and Backup Rules (NOT part of MDM Lifecycle Management):

While important for overall data management, recovery and backup rules pertain more to data protection and disaster recovery rather than the specific processes of MDM lifecycle management.

Management of Reference and Master Data aims to mitigate the challenges of disparate data, which typically arise from:

Organic Growth:

Unplanned Expansion: Over time, organizations often develop new systems and applications organically, leading to isolated and redundant data stores.

Inconsistent Data: These disparate systems often result in inconsistent and unreliable data.

Isolated Systems:

Siloed Applications: Independent systems that do not communicate effectively with each other can lead to multiple versions of the same data.

Lack of Integration: Without proper integration, data consistency and quality suffer.

Mergers and Acquisitions:

Combining Systems: Mergers and acquisitions introduce the challenge of integrating different data systems and standards.

Data Redundancy: Newly acquired systems often come with their own data sets, leading to redundancy and conflicts.

References:

Data Management Body of Knowledge (DMBOK), Chapter 7: Master Data Management

DAMA International, "The DAMA Guide to the Data Management Body of Knowledge (DMBOK)"

MDM (Master Data Management) is characterized by formal management with a high degree of diligence and collaboration. Here’s why:

Formal Management:

Structured Processes: MDM involves structured processes for managing master data, including data governance, data quality management, and data stewardship.

Policies and Standards: Establishes and enforces policies and standards to ensure data consistency, accuracy, and integrity.

Collaboration:

Cross-Functional Teams: Requires collaboration across different departments, including IT, business units, and data governance teams.

Stakeholder Involvement: Engages various stakeholders in the data management process, ensuring that master data meets the needs of the entire organization.

References:

Data Management Body of Knowledge (DMBOK), Chapter 7: Master Data Management

DAMA International, "The DAMA Guide to the Data Management Body of Knowledge (DMBOK)"