The world probably does not need any more acronyms – especially ones that sound like science fiction movies – but I was particularly impressed with a recent webinar from The Data Warehouse Institute where research analyst Philip Russom talked about dPIQ (pronounced dee-pick).
The idea is that organizations can create more value by unifying data profiling (P), data integration (I) and data quality (Q). On the one hand, the concept seems so obvious – yet in practice, these functions often report into different teams – each with their own goals and objectives.
When teams work in silos, the lack of coordination often results in redundant efforts – with no synchronization in terms of deliverables or schedules. Russom makes the case as to how data profiling, integration and quality depend on each other. But more importantly, he provides insight into the iterative and cyclical nature of these disciplines. What he calls “the four rings of dPIQ”.
While you may or may not want to consolidate teams, the real value-add comes from an organization’s ability to coordinate multiple cycles – so that planned updates, changes and improvements to various data management efforts work in concert. The “four rings” approach can help you understand more about the iterative and overlapping cycles that exist in your company. If you are in the business of adding value, this webinar could be worth your time.