Get your data house in order before investing in software.
Most companies that need master data management aren't ready for it yet. Data lives in multiple systems with different names for the same things. Nobody officially owns the data. Reports take too long because people spend more time reconciling than analyzing. An MDM platform can solve these problems — but only if the foundational work has been done first. That's what this engagement is for.
Three things that have to happen before software can help you.
Map the landscape
Identify what data lives where, who owns it, and where your systems disagree with each other.
Build governance
Put real people in place with real authority over real data — so decisions get made and don't stall.
Design and validate
Build and test a shared data model for a pilot data area before you commit to a full platform investment.
Five phases. Clear deliverables at each step.
We align on objectives, identify the right stakeholders, and arrange system access — so everyone knows the plan before any work starts.
You get: A written engagement summary confirming what we agreed to, who's involved, and how we'll communicate throughout.
We interview stakeholders across functional areas to understand what systems they use, what data they trust, and what breaks. We review sample data to assess quality, duplication, and inconsistencies across source systems.
You get: A Data Asset Map showing which systems hold what data, who owns it, and where definitions conflict — plus a recommendation on the right pilot domain and the reasoning behind it.
We identify who should own data quality in the pilot area, define decision-making authority, and design how the governance group works — meeting cadence, escalation paths, and how disagreements get resolved.
You get: A Governance Charter with named stewards, a RACI matrix, escalation paths, and meeting templates.
We define the shared data model for the pilot area — what fields matter, what values are valid, which source wins when systems disagree, and how duplicates are resolved. Built through facilitated workshops with your governance team, with at least two rounds of review.
You get: A Domain Design Blueprint — a complete reference for how the pilot data area is defined, where each field comes from, and how conflicts are resolved.
We test the design against real scenarios, incorporate feedback, and package everything for handoff. The team tells us whether they feel ready — and if there are gaps, we name them clearly.
You get: A Readiness Package containing all prior deliverables, data quality findings, adoption recommendations, and an executive summary covering where you started and what comes next.
This is collaborative work, not a handoff at the end.
What to expect
Your team participates in interviews, attends workshops, makes decisions about data definitions and ownership, and validates the work at each stage. We lead the process and produce the deliverables — but knowledge transfer happens throughout, not at the end.
Time commitment
Expect stakeholders to commit roughly 3–5 hours per week during active phases, concentrated in workshops and review sessions. When the engagement is over, your team understands what was built and how to maintain it.
Why a pilot-first approach is the right call.
Less risk
Organizations that try to solve all their data problems at once typically stall. A smaller, lower-risk pilot area lets your team learn the process before taking on something more complex — and reduces the risk of a large platform investment that lands on unprepared data.
Real results first
By the time the pilot is done, governance roles have been tested in practice, the team has built confidence through real results, and you have a repeatable playbook for the next data area. Instead of buying software and hoping the data will sort itself out, you arrive at implementation ready.
Everything you need to move forward with confidence.
A clear map of where your master data lives, which systems hold it, who owns it, and where definitions conflict.
A governance structure with named data stewards, defined decision rights, and a tested working process.
A validated data model for the pilot domain, ready to guide MDM platform implementation.
Documented data quality findings, adoption recommendations, and a clear set of next steps.
A team that has been through the process and understands how to repeat it for the next domain.
About Above and Beyond Data
Above and Beyond Data is an independent consulting practice specializing in master data management, data modeling, and governance design. We work directly with companies — from small to mid-size to multinational enterprises — to solve the foundational data problems that block growth, reliable reporting, and system investments.
You get the person who does the thinking and the doing — not a firm that sells the engagement and hands it to a junior team.
Ready to talk through whether this engagement is right for your organization?
Book a free consultation