David Marco is an internationally recognized expert in the fields of enterprise architecture, data warehousing and business intelligence and is the world's foremost authority on meta data. He is the author of Universal Meta Data Models (Wiley, 2004) and Building and Managing the Meta Data Repository: A Full Life-Cycle Guide (Wiley, 2000). Marco has taught at the University of Chicago and DePaul University, and in 2004 he was selected to the prestigious Crain's Chicago Business "Top 40 Under 40."  He is the founder and president of Enterprise Warehousing Solutions, Inc., a GSA schedule and Chicago-headquartered strategic partner and systems integrator dedicated to providing companies and large government agencies with best-in-class business intelligence solutions using data warehousing and meta data repository technologies. He may be reached at (866) EWS-1100 or via e-mail at DMarco@EWSolutions.com.

SOAs and Metadata Management, Part 2
February 1, 2007

SOAs and Metadata Management, Part 1
December 1, 2006

Understanding Data Governance and Stewardship, Part 3
November 1, 2006

Understanding Data Governance and Stewardship, Part 2
October 1, 2006

Understanding Data Governance and Stewardship, Part 1
September 1, 2006

Metadata Management & Enterprise Architecture
May 1, 2006

Managing Metadata for the Business, Part 3 - IT Portfolio Management
April 1, 2006

Managing Metadata for the Business, Part 2 - Reducing IT Redundancy
March 1, 2006

Managing Metadata for the Business, Part 1
February 1, 2006

Industry Specific MME Applications, Part 4
January 1, 2006

Industry-Specific MME Applications, Part 3
December 1, 2005

Industry Specific MME Applications, Part 2
November 1, 2005

Industry Specific MME Applications, Part 1
October 1, 2005

CIOs and Meta Data Management, Part 2
August 1, 2005

CIOs and Meta Data Management, Part 1
July 1, 2005

MME Best Practices Case Study Allstate Insurance, Part 5
June 1, 2005

MME Best Practices Case Study Allstate Insurance, Part 4
May 1, 2005

MME Best Practices Case Study Allstate Insurance, Part 3
April 1, 2005

MME Best Practices Case Study Allstate Insurance, Part 2
March 1, 2005

MME Best Practices Case Study: Allstate Insurance, Part 1
February 1, 2005

Data Assurance Road Map, Part 2
January 1, 2005

Data Assurance Road Map, Part 1
December 1, 2004

Managed Meta Data Environment: A Complete Walk-Through, Part 8
November 1, 2004

Managed Meta Data Environment: A Complete Walk-Through, Part 7
October 1, 2004

Managed Meta Data Environment: A Complete Walk-Through, Part 6
September 1, 2004

Managed Meta Data Environment: A Complete Walk-Through, Part 5
August 1, 2004

Managed Meta Data Environment: A Complete Walk-Through, Part 4
July 1, 2004

Managed Meta Data Environment: A Complete Walk-Through, Part 3
June 1, 2004

Managed Meta Data Environment: A Complete Walk-Through, Part 2
May 1, 2004

Managed Meta Data Environment: A Complete Walk-Through, Part 1
April 1, 2004

Iterative and Narrative Data: Common Ground?
March 1, 2004

The Importance of Technical Architecture in Software Selection
February 1, 2004

Designing the Optimal Meta Data Tool, Part 3
January 1, 2004

Designing the Optimal Meta Data Tool, Part 2
December 1, 2003

The Importance of Data Integration
November 1, 2003 Most CIOs identify the integration of organizational data as one of their key objectives. In fact, the issue of data...

Designing the Optimal Meta Data Tool, Part 1
October 1, 2003

Meta Data Silos, Part 2
September 1, 2003

Meta Data Silos, Part 1
August 1, 2003

Meta Data Management and Enterprise Architecture
July 1, 2003

Independent Data Marts: Stranded on Islands of Data, Part 3
June 1, 2003

Independent Data Marts: Stranded on Islands of Data, Part 2
May 1, 2003

Independent Data Marts: Stranded on Islands of Data, Part 1
April 1, 2003

Data Stewardship Framework, Part 4
March 1, 2003

Data Stewardship Framework, Part 3
February 1, 2003

Data Stewardship Framework, Part 2
January 1, 2003

I need to categorize and differentiate
December 2, 2002 I need to categorize and differentiate "data" tools for our organization. Once the categories are defined, I want to place...

Data Stewardship Framework
December 1, 2002

Capability Maturity Model: Applying CMM Levels to Data Warehousing
November 1, 2002

Capability Maturity Model: Applying CMM Levels to Data Warehousing
October 1, 2002

Capability Maturity Model: Overview of the Six Levels
September 1, 2002

Capability Maturity Model: An Introduction
August 1, 2002

I would like to know if you have any studies comparing different software for business intelligence?
July 26, 2002 I would like to know if you have any studies comparing different software for business intelligence?

Meta Data Repository: A System that Manages Our Systems
July 1, 2002

Is there a good end-to-end meta data tool?
June 5, 2002 Is there a good end-to-end meta data tool? I am concerned that companies pass off their approaches as meta data when they...

Revisiting the Top 10 Meta Data Repository Mistakes, Part 2
June 1, 2002

Can you use one database model for OLAP and OLTP?
May 3, 2002 My company is now investigating whether you could use one database model and/or one database for both OLTP and OLAP...

Revisiting the Top 10 Meta Data Repository Mistakes, Part 1
May 1, 2002

I am the quality assurance (QA) manager for the Data Management Services department of the Bank of Montreal.
April 17, 2002 We test ETL by writing SQL queries against source tables and comparing results to those of the SQL queries against target...

IT Portfolio Management
April 1, 2002

Meta Data Repository Myths
March 1, 2002

I would like to know how best to test the warehouse in ETL if we are not using any tools for ETL (everything has been written in programs)?
February 7, 2002 I would like to know how best to test the warehouse in ETL if we are not using any tools for ETL (everything has been written...

Meta Data Repositories: Where We've Been and Where We're Going
February 1, 2002 A review of the history of meta data repositories helps to understand their role and highlights the need for companies to...

New Technology's Three-Phase Life Cycle
January 1, 2002

A Meta Data Repository is the Key to Knowledge Management
December 1, 2001

God Bless America
November 1, 2001

Repository: Buy Versus Build
October 1, 2001

Which Comes First – The Chicken or the Egg?
September 1, 2001

Meta Data Repository Project Plan: The Rollout Phase
July 1, 2001

Meta Data Repository Project Plan: The Construction Phase
May 1, 2001

I have a single business application and I would like to document its programs, scripts, functions and the corresponding data structures.
April 30, 2001 I have managed large meta-data repositories and data dictionaries such as Manager Software Products and Rochade. Are...

Meta Data Repository Project Plan: Part 2 of the Design Phase
April 1, 2001

When we are cleaning data from a relational source, and some values
March 20, 2001 When we are cleaning data from a relational source, and some values cannot be cleaned. Should it be put in an...

I'm looking for surveys or comparative studies information on data warehousing products and data mining products on the market.
March 20, 2001 I'm looking for surveys or comparative studies information on data warehousing products and data mining products on the...

In your opinion, what is the most popular database platform used for data warehouses in the telecommunications industry worldwide?
March 6, 2001 In your opinion, what is the most popular database platform used for data warehouses in the telecommunications industry...

In planning a data warehouse, what are the possible disadvantages or advantages of choosing either DB2 or Oracle as the database structure?
March 6, 2001 In planning a data warehouse, what are the possible disadvantages or advantages of choosing either DB2 or Oracle as the...

Meta Data Repository Project Plan: Part 1 of the Design Phase
March 1, 2001

Meta Data Repository Project Plan: The Feasibility Phase
February 1, 2001

Meta Data Repository Project Plan: The Orientation Phase
January 1, 2001

Evaluating Meta Data Tools
December 1, 2000

Meta Data and Data Administration: Implementing Data Quality Through Meta Data, Part 1
November 22, 2000 This article is part of DM Direct’s Classic Article series. This column was originally published in DMReview.com’s GoNow...

Meta Data ROI: Specific Guidelines for Your Company
November 1, 2000

I am trying to build a MDD from a relational Oracle Database using Oracle Express Server. Should I have the RDBMS and MDD on the same machine or on a separate machine? What are the pros and cons?
October 30, 2000 I am trying to build a MDD from a relational Oracle Database using Oracle Express Server. Should I have the RDBMS and MDD on...

We are currently using ERwin as our data modeling tool and CA/Platinum repository for our centralized meta data repository.
October 30, 2000 We are using ERwin as our data modeling tool and CA/Platinum repository for our centralized meta data repository. Is there a...

Meta Data ROI: A Competitive Advantage
October 1, 2000

Meta Data ROI: Making Your IT Department Better, Stronger, Faster
September 1, 2000

We are currently evaluating meta data repository tools and the vendors sell themselves through their flexibility and extensibility.
September 1, 2000 Is there a vendor that can provide a "canned" meta data model so we don't have to define our own from scratch?

I've recently inherited a data warehouse that uses disk mirroring, and we're faced with the need to add about a terabyte (mirrored) to make it through the end of 2000.
September 1, 2000 Is it a common practice for data warehouses to use disk mirroring?

Are there any national or worldwide business intelligence consortiums or associations?
September 1, 2000 Are there any national or worldwide business intelligence consortiums or associations?

Meta Data and Data Administration
August 1, 2000

Whassup!?! XML and Data Warehousing that's What!
July 1, 2000

What are the best practices when it comes to deciding between a mainframe and NT environment for a data warehouse.
July 1, 2000 What are the best practices when it comes to deciding between a mainframe and NT environment for a data warehouse?

XML's Uses In Data Warehousing: Getting Data In
June 1, 2000

Who is a good source of information in data mining in the world today?
June 1, 2000 Who is a good source of information in data mining in the world today?

Where can I get a comparative technical feature list of meta data products?
June 1, 2000 Where can I get a comparative technical feature list of meta data products?

Implementing Data Quality Through Meta Data, Part 2
May 1, 2000

Given the often predicted growth in demand for data warehousing, data mining and business intelligence capabilities as a result of the e-commerce boom,
April 1, 2000 Given the individual strengths and positions of SQL, Oracle and IBM in the database world, which certification program would...

I'm the marketing guy, not the DBA.
April 1, 2000 I want to begin collecting e-mail addresses for newsletters, but my DBA is resisting an e-mail address-only database. How do...

Meta Data and Data Administration
April 1, 2000

Where do successful organizations place data warehousing and decision support systems within the internal IT organization.
March 1, 2000 Where do successful organizations place data warehousing and decision support systems within the internal IT organization?

Meta Data Architecture Fundamentals
March 1, 2000

I'm the project leader for a data warehousing development project.
March 1, 2000 We are about to begin collecting business requirements, and I'd like to know if the requirements methodology is different for...

Several of my clients have asked me what the salary averages are for data warehousing professionals and/or individuals trained in ETL and OLAP tools such as ETI*EXTRACT, Informatica and MicroStrategy.
February 1, 2000 Is there information about salary averages for data warehousing professionals and/or individuals trained in ETL and OLAP tools?

Recently, our organization has been restructured so that one team focuses on data warehouse activities and the other on reference data.
February 1, 2000 Do you know of any organizations that are restructuring into "teams," where one team focuses on data warehouse activities and...

XML: The Global Meta Data Standard
February 1, 2000

We have built a 700GB data warehouse. Now we want to initial a meta data project, what is the first step?
February 1, 2000 We have built a 700GB data warehouse, and we want to initial a meta data project. What is the first step?

We are in the process of loading a data warehouse from a mainframe source.
February 1, 2000 Is there a rule of thumb that would give me a 95 to 99 percent confidence level that the data in our warehouse is correct?

My company is thinking about building a data warehouse for our marketing department.
February 1, 2000 What book(s) should be required reading before we start building a data warehouse for our marketing department?

Data Warehousing Trends for 2000
January 1, 2000

What exactly is the role of meta data and its relation with an ETL tool?
December 1, 1999 What exactly is the role of meta data and its relation with an ETL tool?

My own experience in constructing a decision-support environment suggests that a data warehouse must be built to support key business drivers or performance indicators.
December 1, 1999 How many data warehouse projects are built to provide support for tracking key performance indicators?

Where can I find standards regarding data management?
December 1, 1999 Where can I find standards regarding data management?

We are making a decision about selecting which ETL tools we should use.
December 1, 1999 Could you please give me some suggestions about how we can pick the right ETL product and what we should consider?

Advanced Meta Data Architecture
November 1, 1999

What exactly is knowledge management?
October 1, 1999 What exactly is knowledge management?

I was wondering what the difference is between database administrators and data administrators.
October 1, 1999 What is the difference between database administrators and data administrators?

How can the knowledge management concept be implemented in DW design, and is it possible to have an electronic DW?
October 1, 1999 How can the knowledge management concept be implemented in DW design?

We are creating a data warehouse that must restrict access to data for certain classes of users.
October 1, 1999 What technique is used in implementing row-level security in a data warehouse?

What is the typical rate within data warehousing for promoting changes that effect transformation and data cleansing for existing subject areas that are in production?
October 1, 1999 What is the typical rate within data warehousing for promoting changes that effect transformation and data cleansing for...

Meta Data ROI: Meta Data Solutions, Part 3
October 1, 1999

What are the objectives that should be considered for a data warehousing strategy?
October 1, 1999 What are the objectives that should be considered for a data warehousing strategy?

Meta Data ROI: The Evolution of Technology, Part 2
September 1, 1999

If a central bank is to set up a data warehouse, what all factors should it look into?
September 1, 1999 If a central bank is to set up a data warehouse, what factors are involved in implementation?

Where can I find a product that does the following:
September 1, 1999 Where can I find a product that extracts data from any platform, cleanses the data and reformats it in a consistent manner?

We are in the prototyping phase of our data warehouse.
August 1, 1999 My IT partners recommend we use a software called Oracle warehouse builder to prototype our data warehouse, which would be...

Doesn't it require a lot of data duplication to keep tons of data in a central data warehouse, then export that data to various data marts?
July 1, 1999 Doesn't it require a lot of data duplication to keep tons of data in a central data warehouse, then export that data to...

I'm in this for the bucks and I hear that there's a pile of money to be made in data warehouse.
July 1, 1999 I hear that there's a pile of money to be made in data warehouse. What do you suggest?

Meta Data ROI: The Evolution of Business, Part 1
July 1, 1999

Data Administration Staffing, Part 2
June 1, 1999

Data Administration Staffing, Part 1
May 1, 1999

Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid, Part 2
April 1, 1999

Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid
March 1, 1999

Meta Data: The Key to Decision Support
February 1, 1999

Data Mart Migration
December 1, 1998 This article focuses on migrating from independent data marts and covers approaches for migration, initial planning, how to...

Stranded on Islands of Data
November 1, 1998 This article addresses the characteristics of independent data marts, the flaws in their architecture and the reason they exist.

Meta Data Integration: Fitting Square Pegs in Round Holes
September 1, 1998 Business intelligence systems require a carefully developed meta data integration architecture.

Starting a Data Warehousing Project?
July 1, 1998 Before embarking on a data warehouse project, a variety of factors must be considered. This article provides eight questions...

Managing Meta Data
March 1, 1998 Since constructing a meta data repository is critical for accessing and maintaining a DSS, a full life cycle approach to...