Master Data Management: Old Problem With a New Urgency

Master data management is not a new problem. Enterprises have been struggling with it for some time. However, new global regulations such as Sarbanes-Oxley in the United States and Basel II in Europe and increasing interest in performance management have given it a new urgency. Why? Compliance and performance management both require consistent master data across an enterprise. In fact, master data management has become such a high priority that the Tower Group estimates that 80 percent of enterprises have plans to centralize it.