The document discusses the importance of integrating ERP metadata into information architecture, highlighting challenges in obtaining useful metadata and advocating for the use of data modeling to fulfill business needs. It outlines the benefits of data modeling in various contexts, such as data integration, requirements gathering, and compliance, while emphasizing the significance of maintaining effective information management amidst increasing data volumes. The text also shares insights from Chris Bradley's extensive experience in data governance, master data management, and enterprise information management.

1. How do you include ERP metadata in your Information Architecture?Chris BradleyBusiness Consulting Directorchris.bradley@ipl.com+44 1225 475000

2. Bath RugbyMain sponsor2009-2010 season2010-2011 season

3. Chris Bradley Recent speaking engagements:DAMA International (DAMA / Wilshire), March 5th -8th 2007, Boston, MA “Data as a service” “Panel of Data Modelling experts”CDi_MDM Summit (IRM UK), April 30 – May 2nd 2007, London, “A Data Architecture for Data Governance”DAMA UK: June 15th 2007, London, “Data Modelling – Where did it all go wrong?”Data Governance Conference, (Debtech / Wilshire) June 25 -28, 2007, San Francisco, CA, “Data Architecture for Governance – case study”IPL & Embarcadero seminar series: (Bristol, London, Manchester, Edinburgh), October 2007, “Data Modelling – Where did it all go wrong?”DQ/IM & DAMA Europe (IRM London), November 2007, “Data Modelling as a service”Data Governance Conference: (Debtech / Wilshire) Florida, December 2007, “Data Governance 2.0”DAMA International: (DAMA / Wilshire), March 16th – 21st 2008, San Diego, CA. “Modelling for SoA” “XML amd data models” DAMA International: (DAMA / Wilshire), March 16th – 21st 2008, San Diego, CA. “Establishing Data Modelling as a Service in BP” BPM Europe: (IRM), September 2008, London: “BPMN for Dummies”DAMA Europe: (IRM / DAMA), November 2008, London, “BPMN for Dummies”“Data Modelling as a service”Data Governance Europe Sysmposia: (IRM / Debtech; London), February 2009, “Data Governance Challenges in a Major Multi National”Webinar series: (Embarcadero Technologies & IPL), Oct 2008 – Feb 2009, “The New Formula for Success – Moving Data Modelling beyond the Database”Data Rage 2009: March 17-19 2009, “Evolve or Die – Modelling is not just for DBMS’s anymore”“Data Modelling as a service”Enterprise Data World International: (DAMA / Wilshire), April 5th -12th 2009, Tampa FL, “Exploiting Models for effective SAP implementations” Chairing panel of experts “Keeping modelling relevant”Panel of experts “Issues in information internationalisation”“Modelling is not just for RDBMS’s”DAMA UK & BCS Data Management Group:, June 11th 2009; London, “Evolve or Die - Data Modelling is not just for DBMS’s”Chris Bradley Summary:30 years Information Management experienceMOD, Volvo, Thorn EMI, Coopers & Lybrand, IPLSample Clients: BP, Enterprise Oil, Statoil, Exxon Mobil, Audit Commission, MoD, Merrill Lynch, Barclays, DoD, Imperial Tobacco, GSK ….Experience: Data Governance, Master Data Management, Enterprise Information ManagementAuthor & conference speakerCDMP(Master), CBIP, Prince2, APMDirector DAMA UK & MPOBeyeNetwork Expert Channel Author “Information Asset Management”DAMA UK & BCS Data Management Group:, June 11th 2009; London, “Evolve or Die - Data Modelling is not just for DBMS’s”BPM Europe: (IRM), September 2009, London: ½ day workshop “An introduction to Data and the BPMN”Data Migration Matters: October 1st 2009, London, “Designing for Success”Data Management & Information Management Europe: (DAMA / IRM), November 2-5 2009, London, “Modelling is NOT just for DBMS’s anymore”“Meet the Metadata Professional Organisation”Enterprise Data World International: (DAMA / Wilshire), March 14th – 19th 2010, San Francisco CA, “How to communicate with the business using high level models”IPL & DataFlux Seminar Series: (IPL/DataFlux), March 26th 2010, Bath, UK. “The Information Advantage – Exploiting Information Management For The Business”BeyeNETWORK Webinar: (CA/BeyeNETWORK), March 31st 2010, Webinar. “Communicating with the Business through high level data models”Enterprise Architecture Europe: (IRM), June 16th – 18th 2010, London: ½ day workshop “The Evolution of Enterprise Data Modelling”ECIM Exploration & Production: September 13th 15th 2010, Haugesund, Norway: “Information Challenges and Solutions”Information Management in Pharmaceuticals: September 15th 2010, London, “Clinical Information Management – Are we the cobblers children?”BPM Europe: (IRM), September 27th – 29th 2010, London, “Learning to Love BPMN 2.0”October 1st 2009The Kings FundLondon

4. Chris Bradley Recent publications:Database Marketing Magazine, February 2009, “Preventing a Data Disaster”http://content.yudu.com/A12pnb/DMfeb09/resources/30.htmData Modelling For The Business – A Handbook for aligning the business with IT using high-level data models; Technics Publishing; ISBN 978-0-9771400-7-7; http://www.amazon.com/Data-Modeling-Business-Handbook-High-Level/dp/0977140075/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1235660979&sr=1-4BeyeNETWORK “Chris Bradley Expert Channel” Information Asset Managementhttp://www.b-eye-network.co.uk/channels/1554/Article “Data Modelling is NOT just for DBMS’s” (July 2009)http://www.b-eye-network.co.uk/channels/1554/view/10748 and (August 2009) http://www.b-eye-network.co.uk/view/10986Article: Information Management Deficiency Syndrome (September 2009)http://www.b-eye-network.co.uk/channels/1554/view/11216/Article: Drowning in spreadsheets (September 2009)http://www.b-eye-network.co.uk/channels/1554/view/11482/Article “Seven deadly sins of data modelling” (October 2009)http://www.b-eye-network.co.uk/view/11481Article “How do you want yours served (data that is)” (December 2009)http://www.b-eye-network.co.uk/Article “How Do You Want Your Data Served?” Conspectus Magazine (February 2010)Article “10 easy steps to evaluate Data Modelling tools” Information Management, (March 2010)Chris Bradley Summary:30 years Information Management experienceMOD, Volvo, Thorn EMI, Coopers & Lybrand, IPLSample Clients: BP, Enterprise Oil, Statoil, Exxon Mobil, Audit Commission, MoD, Merrill Lynch, Barclays, DoD, Imperial Tobacco, GSK ….Experience: Data Governance, Master Data Management, Enterprise Information ManagementAuthor & conference speakerCDMP(Master), CBIP, Prince2, APMDirector DAMA UK & MPOBeyeNetwork Expert Channel Author “Information Asset Management”October 1st 2009The Kings FundLondon

5. shaun.davey@ipl.comAgendaWhat’s the problem?Why should you bother with data modelling when you’ve got or planning to get an ERP? How can you incorporate SAP metadata into your overall model?Lessons learned & benefits

6. 1. What’s the problem?Intelligent BusinessIntelligent Business

7. Problems in Getting Metadata from ERPsDatabase System Catalog does not hold useful metadataNo PK or FK Constraints in the DatabaseProprietary ERP DD holds ‘Logical View’ of data

8. SAP Physical Database…

9. …70,000 Islands of Information

10. ...Need intelligible metadata

11. … and understandable Analytical Structures

12. 2. Why bother modelling when implementing ERPs? …..Intelligent Business

13. ERP & packaged systems“We don’t need a data model – the package has it all”But, does it …Meet your business requirements?Logical Data Model will aid configuration / fit for purpose evaluationHave identical data structures & meanings as your legacy systems?Logical Data model will aid Data Integration, Legacy Data take on and Master Data integration.“But its a done deal”So don’t you want to know if there are any gaps?

14. Why produce a data model?Top ten reasons:Capturing Business Requirements Promotes Reuse, Consistency, QualityBridge Between Business and Technology PersonnelAssessing Fit of Package SolutionsIdentify and Manage Redundant DataSets Context for Project within the Enterprise Interaction Analysis: Compliments Process ModelPictures Communicate Better than WordsAvoid Late Discovery of Missed Requirements Critical in Managing Integration Between SystemsSurvey of 200+ Data Modellers: 2008

15. Key reasons to produce a data model for ERP’sRequirements gatheringFit for purpose assessmentIdentifying gaps Data migration / take on Master Data alignment Data lineage (particularly important with Data Lineage & SoX compliance issues) Reporting (particularly Business Intelligence & Data Warehousing) But most importantly, for integration of the ERP metadata into your overall Information Architecture

16. HR example: Personnel tracking1/9/20091/9/20121/1/20161/1/2007Joe’s“Engagements”Expatriated to USUK EmployeeUK EmployeeRetireeCandidateDATA ON AN ENGAGEMENTStart & end date,Sponsor / Parent / Home Organisation,Contractual Details (e.g. Employment Status, Level, Legal Entity, Salary, Benefits)Joe’s “RoleAssignments”DATA ON A ROLE ASSIGNMENTStart & end date,Position (showing Job Type, Work Location, Working Time, Skills Requirements)Exploration GeophysicalConsultantTrainee GeophysicistNorth SeaGeophysicistSabbattical(No role assignment)GOM GeophysicistGOMGU Leader(pt time)GOM Geophysicist(pt time)North SeaGeophysicistIn this model a person goes through a sequence of “Engagements” (in this example: candidate, employee, expat, employee, retiree).For each Engagement, the positions filled are indicated by “Role Assignments”, showing start and end date in each position.

17. The Corresponding ER DiagramEngagementRoleAssignmentThis is showing that “Role Assignment” is subordinate to “Engagement”.i.e. you can’t set up a Role Assignment until you have an Engagement to relate it to.An everyday language example: “Joe Bloggs’ role as Trainee Geophysicist falls under his UK contract of employment dated 1/1/2007”.

18. Model 1 One way of keeping track of people…In this model a person goes through a sequence of “Engagements” (e.g. candidate, employee, expat, employee, sabbatical, employee, retiree).For each Engagement, the positions filled are indicated by “Role Assignments”, showing start and end date in each position.Each Position is part of an Organisation Unit, which in turn is part of a higher organisation unit, and so on.A Position is filled by different people over time (i.e. the various Role Assignments to one Position can be for different people).Personal Details (e.g. Name, Bank Acct,Emergency Contact, Qualifications)PersonStart & end date,Sponsor / Parent / Home Organisation,Contractual Details (e.g. Employment Status,Level, Legal Entity, Salary, Benefits)EngagementOrg UnitManager, Cost CentreStart & end datePositionRoleAssignmentJob Type, Work Location,Working Time, Skills Requirements

19. Model 2 One possible simplificationWe might try to simplify the model by merging Engagement into Role Assignment (see below). But there are consequences. For example this would require us to repeat the sponsor and contractual details on a new Role Assignment each time the person moves to a new Position. Also if someone had simultaneous Role Assignments we would have to keep the multiple versions of their contractual details in step.Personal Details (e.g. Name, Bank Acct,Emergency Contact, Qualifications)PersonManager, Cost CentreOrg UnitStart & end date,Sponsor / Parent / Home Organisation,Contractual Details (e.g. Employment Status,Level, Legal Entity, Salary, Benefits)Job Type, Work Location,Working Time, Skills RequirementsPositionRoleAssignment

20. An example of why the model matters to SAP HRPersonal Details (e.g. Name, Bank Acct,Emergency Contact, Qualifications)PersonEngagementOrg UnitStart & end date,Sponsor / Parent / Home Organisation,Contractual Details (e.g. Employment Status,Level, Legal Entity, Salary, Benefits)Manager, Cost CentrePositionRoleAssignmentStart & end dateJob Type, Work Location,Working Time, Skills RequirementsThis data field recorded on an Engagement might be better implemented as this relationship between the Engagement and an Org Unit. There arepowerful reasons to do this: e.g. the processes of organisation definition (which maintain the list of Org Units) can ensure that, unlike now, no-one’ssponsor/parent/home gets lost as org units are merged, split, or dissolved; e.g. workflow can route transactions seamlessly via sponsor/parent/homewhen appropriate, rather than as now by using host org unit as a proxy with manual interventions (this applies to salary review & developmentdecisions, for example). Adding the red relationshipis a configuration choice in SAP. SAP is “vanilla” with it or without it.

21. There are many decisions.Some examples, if we started from model 1…Allow simultaneous Role Assignments?Allow cost-centres only on Position?Allow hierarchy of Org Units, or Positions, or both?NB ALL options here are “Vanilla SAP”Data Modelling – where did it all go wrong?

22. Data integration & lineageData take on into SAPAre source & target definitions = ?Load tables or Idocs?Still need the basics:SOX lineage requirementsRepository based Data migration design = ConsistencyLegacy data take onSource to target mappingReverse engineer & generate ETLImpact analysis

23. MI / BI / DWModel Data requirements in Dimensional ModelMust start from understanding of existing data landscapeCapture rich metadata via reverse engineering BW Info Cubes, BO Universes, …….

24. Generate Star, Snowflake, Star flake schemas3. How can you incorporate SAP metadata into your overall model?

25. “Where in SAP is the data I need?”“How are the tables related?”How can I explore SAP (without very expensive SAP consultants)?Challenge

26. Extract ‘useable’ metadata from ERPsBrowse, subsetModelling tool interfaceGoal: metadata exploration for ERPs

27. Allows understanding of EA metadata without specialist application knowledgeTypical projectsBusiness Information/Data WarehousingEnterprise MetadatamanagementImpact analysis Application Integration Saphir

29. Search by description or table name

30. Sort by child/parent tables to find “master” tables

31. View table and field information

32. Navigate relationships

33. Application Hierarchy & Program tree

34. Get information from screensXXX

35. LDM Project Review - Approach to Developing the ModelApproachIdentify relevant processes (Process Scope Matrix)Identify relevant T-codes for each processUtilize SAP Screens, Process Documentation, and Database Analysis to identify candidate data elementsModel - Master Data -> Transactional Data -> BW DataDevelopment ProcessIdentified thru SAP Screens

36. Process Documentation

37. SAP Database (Saphir)4. Lessons learned & benefits?

38. Lessons Learned - PeopleSAP architects require careful handling. Avoid religious wars!Developers require careful handling. Get them comfortable with using the models (may require training). Avoid DIY ABAP’s to re-invent model!Management require very careful handling. Continually demonstrate value!! Data Modellers require careful handling. Keep them focused on the business objective! We are not trying to create art!….. remember people are people

40. Make models available to everyone

41. Lessons Learned - ProcessUse the right tool for the jobWork closely with project team and process modelersWork directly with SME and get continuous feedbackGet involved in projects early (ideally before the ERP has been selected and definitely before it has been configured)Look for value in the maintenance cycle (interface maintenance, XML maintenance, cube rationalization)….. always be part of the team

42. Minimize Administration

43. Lessons Learned - TechnologyModelling tools need some help to get at meaningful ERP metadataModellers should have access to a data profiling toolSpecialist ERP metadata extraction tool alone is too detailed. Can’t point at complete SAP module and get a good result….. technology is a means to an end, NOT the end in itself

44. Avoid the Death star!

45. There are lots of benefitsRequirements gathering … leading to focused evaluation and good configurationData migration / take on … from clear definitions, accountabilities and high qualityMaster Data alignment … facilitating establishment of master data single version of truthData lineage … driving down the cost of integrationReporting … and reporting environment optimizationIntegration within overall Information Architecture … improving the overall understanding of the business and leading to business agility….. always stay focused on the business objectives when modelling

46. Effective IM IS crucial todayHigher volumes of data generated by organisationsInformation is all pervasive – if you don’t have a strategy to manage it, you will certainly drown in itProliferation of data-centric systemsERP, CRM, ECM…Greater demand for reliable informationAccurate business intelligence is vital to gain competitive advantage, support planning/resourcing and monitor key business functionsTighter regulatory complianceFar more responsibility now placed on organisations to ensure they store, manage, audit and protect their dataBusiness change is no longer optional – it’s inevitableMergers/acquisitions, market forces, technological advances…

49. Why?Businesses NEED a common vocabulary for communicationBut ...Be aware of the baggage associated with the term “data modelling”It often works best if you don’t mention you’re doing “data modelling”

50. Now – That should clear up a few things around here!Businesses NEED a common vocabulary for communication“Ultimately, poor data quality is like dirt on the windshield. You may be able to drive for a long time with slowly degrading vision, but at some point you either have to stop and clear the windshield or riskeverything.”Ken Orr, The Cutter Consortium

51. 5. Contact detailsIIntelligent Business

52. Further information:Articles including:Seven deadly sins of data modelling

53. The IT Credibility Crunch

54. Information Management Deficiency Syndrome

55. Modelling is not just for DBMS’s

56. Data mining - where’s my hard hat?

57. Master data mix-ups

58. Drowning in spreadsheets

59. Why bother with a semantic layer?

60. Business Intelligence in a cold climate

61. Data Management is everybody's businessDownload from:http://www.ipl.com/services/businessconsulting

62. Contact detailsChris BradleyBusiness Consulting DirectorChris.Bradley@ipl.com+44 1225 475000