Saturday, May 27, 2006
Metadata Definition: Reloaded
Here is an improved attempt at a metadata definition:
Metadata – an external description of a distinct data resource. Common usages for metadata include providing the context of the data resource, managing its lifecycle and extending it to new uses. An example of metadata is the external description of an audio file specifying the artist that created it, when it was created, the length or play time, and the genre of music it belongs to. The purpose of metadata is to manage and improve the use of data as a strategic asset.
I believe this is an improved version that fixes the "data about data" problem, avoids the laundry list problem while giving some usage examples and closes with a clear statement of purpose. Next steps will be to apply the definition and drill down into the common usages I state in the definition: data asset context, data asset lifecycle management, and data asset extension (or repurposing). Many of these will be tested in a new contract we just won to provide data management support (more on that after the press release).
Metadata – an external description of a distinct data resource. Common usages for metadata include providing the context of the data resource, managing its lifecycle and extending it to new uses. An example of metadata is the external description of an audio file specifying the artist that created it, when it was created, the length or play time, and the genre of music it belongs to. The purpose of metadata is to manage and improve the use of data as a strategic asset.
I believe this is an improved version that fixes the "data about data" problem, avoids the laundry list problem while giving some usage examples and closes with a clear statement of purpose. Next steps will be to apply the definition and drill down into the common usages I state in the definition: data asset context, data asset lifecycle management, and data asset extension (or repurposing). Many of these will be tested in a new contract we just won to provide data management support (more on that after the press release).
