To echo John Zachman’s opening comment in the Foreword: Wow, what a truly monumental piece of work!
The DAMA-DMBOK Guide is the first of its kind in the data management profession, even though other Bodies of Knowledge exist in other professions. The development of a formal data management profession from a collection of different disciplines requires, actually mandates, that a Body of Knowledge be developed. That is exactly what was done here.
Is the first DAMA-DMBOK Guide perfect? No. But, it is a major step in the right direction. DAMA, including both DAMA International and the DAMA Foundation, has ‘driven the stake’ and made a stand on what should comprise a formal, certified, recognized, and respected data management profession. The contents of the first DAMA-DMBOK Guide will be evaluated, revised, and released in updated versions.
It was not easy pulling the first DAMA-DMBOK Guide together. Several hundred people were involved in developing and reviewing the contents, and preparing the final manuscript for publication. These people came from different disciplines, different professional backgrounds, and different operating environments. All had different ideas and thoughts about what should be included in a formal data management profession. However, in staying with the theme of professionals creating the profession, the input of a wide variety of professionals needed to be considered.
You probably noticed some inconsistencies as you read through the DAMA-DMBOK Guide. These inconsistencies are the result of including the thoughts and ideas of many data management professionals. Although attempts were made at consistency, at least with respect to the over-style, the objective was to avoid forcing the thoughts of a few on the many. It is better to surface the inconsistencies among professionals, evaluate them, decide on the best approach, and include the refinements in revisions to the DAMA-DMBOK Guide.
The evolution of the data management profession and the DAMA-DMBOK Guide is quite interesting. In the middle and late 1990’s concern was growing about the development of a formal data management profession. A number of data management professionals felt that if we, the professionals, did not develop our own formal data management profession, that someone else would develop it for us. Those were very disconcerting times.
In the early 2000’s a few of us in DAMA had a vision of a formal, certified, recognized, and respected data management profession. We developed an education curriculum, began formal certifications, established a Foundation, and prepared mission statements. We decided to develop a Body of Knowledge (BOK), which quickly evolved to a Complete Body of Knowledge (CBOK).
Subsequently, a discussion evolved about branding products that DAMA developed. Accordingly, the Data Management Body of Knowledge (DMBOK) was established. Further branding led to the DAMA-DMBOK. When we initially looked at the contents of a complete body of knowledge, it was clear that it could not be put into a single document. Hence, the DAMA-DMBOK Guide was conceived as a guide to the complete body of knowledge for data management.
The DAMA-DMBOK Guide was such a daunting task that development actually began with the DAMA Dictionary of Data Management published in 2008. The Dictionary, like the DAMA-DMBOK Guide is not perfect and will be revised. However, it was a start and formed the foundation for the DAMA-DMBOK Guide published in 2009. Plans are already under way to enhance the Dictionary and the Guide.
The evolution of a formal data management profession can only continue if the professionals are actively involved. I encourage each of you to become involved in the evolution of a formal data management profession, and encourage your fellow professionals to become involved. It is only through the active involvement of data management professionals that a truly viable data management profession will evolve and survive.
Michael Brackett
Lilliwaup, Washington
January, 2009