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Managing Data Quality

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If you have not specified what I need to look like, then I have no idea how to behave or what to tell you; I’ll try and predict this and tell you what I think you want to know, which perhaps will not be right.

I can be so clever if I am set up correctly; I can autocorrect, provide you with selectable values, undo and even auto-archive. But if you don’t take care, I have the ability to ruin your day. I have a whole catalogue of sayings to throw at you. Here are some of my favourites:

invalid key stroke;

invalid data format;

command not recognised;

no search results found;

data out of range;

can’t undo;

last session did not save.

Sometimes I get abused. The finance department often reshapes me and turns me into something I don’t recognise of myself; I think they call this accountancy. These days I’m used a lot in business intelligence, or ‘BI’ for short; they don’t like what I tell them most of the time.

The most fun I ever had was when someone put me through a data migration project. Someone thought I would be very different and much improved as a result, but no, I’m still the same. At least I have a new shiny coat to wear and I fared better than some of my cousins; one of them became schizophrenic after he was part of failed data migration. He has never been the same since!

I was so chuffed recently when I was honoured with the title of being the ‘single version of the truth’, until I found out all my brothers and cousins were also receiving this award.

So, please be very careful when handling me. I do not like any of the following:

1. Being changed – unless my physical representation has also changed, and you have been given permission to change me. I hate to be ‘dressed up’ or made to look good because I don’t give you the answer you want to see; let me be me.

2. Being shared – unless I let you. I might be sensitive and in retaliation I could undermine your business advantage.

3. Being taken for granted – understand me and my ancestors. My provenance could increase our like for each other.

4. Being copied unnecessarily – I want to be unique and original.