BABOK_Guide_v3_member_copy

Data Dictionary
Techniques
Data dictionaries are sometimes referred to as metadata repositories and are used
to manage the data within the context of a solution. As organizations adopt data
mining and more advanced analytics, a data dictionary may provide the metadata
required by these more complex scenarios. A data dictionary is often used in
conjunction with an entity relationship diagram (see Data Modelling (p. 256)) and
may be extracted from a data model.
Data dictionaries can be maintained manually (as a spreadsheet) or via automated
tools.
Figure 10.12.1: Example of a Data Dictionary
Primitive Data
Elements
Data Element
1
Data Element
2
Data Element
3
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Name
Name referenced
by data elements
Alias
Alternate name
referenced by
stakeholders
Values/Meanings
Enumerated list
or description of
data element
Description
Definition
Composite
First Name
Given Name
Minimum 2
characters
First Name
Middle Name
Middle Name
Can be omitted
Middle Name
Last Name
Surname
Minimum 2
characters
Family Name
Customer Name = First Name + Middle Name + Family Name
10.12.3 Elements
.1 Data Elements
Data dictionaries describe data element characteristics including the description
of the data element in the form of a definition that will be used by stakeholders.
Data dictionaries include standard definitions of data elements, their meanings,
and allowable values. A data dictionary contains definitions of each primitive data
element and indicates how those elements combine into composite data
elements.
.2 Primitive Data Elements
The following information must be recorded about each data element in the data
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