Multi-domain master data management : challenges and best practices
Nguyen, Trang (2025)
Pro gradu -tutkielma
2025
School of Business and Management, Kauppatieteet
Kaikki oikeudet pidätetään.
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe20251212118545
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe20251212118545
Tiivistelmä
The thesis investigates the implementation of Multi-Domain Master Data Management (MDM) in large organizations, with a particular focus on identifying key challenges, best practices, differing perspectives of consultants and clients, and the role of current MDM tools. The motivation started from the author’s experience as an MDM consultant, aiming to bridge practical experience with academic research to offer actionable insights for both service providers and enterprise clients.
A qualitative research design was adopted, combining a narrative literature review with a case study approach. The literature review consolidated recently published academic and practitioner work to develop a foundation for MDM challenges and best practices. This was followed by semi-structured interviews with consultants and client-side practitioners from large organizations.
The findings reveal multiple challenges which multi-domain MDM projects need to face, including semantic misalignment, governance legitimacy, organizational resistance, and data integration. Best practices identified through the research include early stakeholder alignment, linking MDM to business value, embedding governance into daily process, and strengthening data integration. Importantly, consultants often equated success with project completion, while clients prioritized data trust and long-term usability, which highlight a critical divergence in perspectives. Finally, while MDM tools are essential for supporting integration and governance, participants underscored that tools alone are insufficient to address organizational misalignments or ensure sustained adoption.
The insights of this thesis serve as a reference for practitioners aiming to improve project outcomes and for researchers exploring enterprise data management strategies.
A qualitative research design was adopted, combining a narrative literature review with a case study approach. The literature review consolidated recently published academic and practitioner work to develop a foundation for MDM challenges and best practices. This was followed by semi-structured interviews with consultants and client-side practitioners from large organizations.
The findings reveal multiple challenges which multi-domain MDM projects need to face, including semantic misalignment, governance legitimacy, organizational resistance, and data integration. Best practices identified through the research include early stakeholder alignment, linking MDM to business value, embedding governance into daily process, and strengthening data integration. Importantly, consultants often equated success with project completion, while clients prioritized data trust and long-term usability, which highlight a critical divergence in perspectives. Finally, while MDM tools are essential for supporting integration and governance, participants underscored that tools alone are insufficient to address organizational misalignments or ensure sustained adoption.
The insights of this thesis serve as a reference for practitioners aiming to improve project outcomes and for researchers exploring enterprise data management strategies.