What does metadata management involve in the DAMA-DMBOK framework?

Metadata management, within the DAMA-DMBOK framework, is centered around managing data about data. This involves capturing, organizing, and maintaining information that describes the characteristics, attributes, and relationships of data assets. The primary goal of metadata management is to provide context and facilitate understanding of the data, making it more accessible and usable for various stakeholders, including data analysts, data scientists, and business users.

By effectively managing metadata, organizations can enhance data discovery, improve data governance, and support data lineage tracking. For instance, knowing the source, format, and quality of data helps users make informed decisions and ensures that data is utilized appropriately throughout its lifecycle.

In contrast, tracking user engagement with data focuses on understanding how users interact with data resources, which is not the core function of metadata management. Developing software tools for data analysis relates more to data analytics capabilities than to the management of metadata. Regulating compliance with legal standards involves ensuring that data practices align with legal requirements, which is distinct from the focus of metadata management on the descriptors of data itself.