DATA COOKBOOK
A data dictionary typically provides minimal information to inform the user, whereas a business glossary provides rich, contextual information to assist users, including those unfamiliar with a data element, in their understanding of a data asset.
Cookbook Roles
Building a robust business glossary requires a team of individuals who possess the functional and technical knowledge of a university’s data and the ability to write data definitions and quality rules. While one individual is assigned the role of the data steward, an individual may be assigned the role of associate steward, a functional writer and/or technical writer. We use the term ‘data delegate’ to refer to this group of roles.
Data steward
an individual who possesses responsibility over all data within their functional area and who provides guidance to data delegates on how their unit will operate within Cookbook. A data steward may perform more hands-on work within the Cookbook or may decide to delegate this work to an associate steward.
Associate steward
an individual who guides the work of technical and functional writers and possesses the abilities of a data steward (for example, data definition approval) but is not responsible for data within a functional area.
Functional writer
an individual who drafts the business definition for a data element.
Technical writer
an individual who drafts the technical/location details for a data element.