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The data management function for the Service Center Initiative is
implemented through the work of the Service Center Data Team. The Data Team
is responsible for coordination over all data management activities across
business areas. The data management focus is on five major areas:
implementing data management policies & standards; establishing an
enterprise data model & data administration process; standardizing data
management tool; establishing a data warehouse strategy & establishing the
overall data architecture.
Charter
June 26, 1997
To reengineer the way data is developed and managed so as to protect the
value of the data asset, assure data quality, improve its organization,
shareability, and availability, and maximize its utility.
Data Team is an interagency team made up of data management professionals
from Service Center partner agencies, supported by contract staff. The team
will interact as needed to accomplish approved objectives through meetings,
teleconferences, and mail. The Team Leader will provide overall management
for tasks, coordinate with the Governing Body, and maintain a record of
accomplishments. Team members will provide support for Team activities to
the degree approved by the Governing Body.
The Service Center Data Team will take overall direction and guidance
from the IRM Working Group acting as a governing body. The Governing Body
will take measures to ensure that top IT officials from the participating
agencies involved in application development have buy-in for the efforts of
the Data Team. The Governing Body will: appoint a Data Team Leader; approve
policies needed to implement common data standards and joint data management
procedures; and set lead agencies for individual initiatives, as
appropriate. The governing body and Service Center Implementation Team
Director would jointly ensure that adequate funding is available to maintain
this initiative. The Body will meet periodically to review the progress of
the Team and to set the direction for future actions.
Functional Statement for Data Team:
To meet the evolving need for the Service Centers and the participating
agencies to better manage what is becoming a very large and dispersed data
environment, the Service Center Data Team will be reoriented to provide the
following services to the participating agencies:
- Establish a core data architecture for the Service Center:
- Maintain a corporate data model for all new/reengineered service
center applications
- Coordinate the collection of metadata for Service Center spatial and
tabular data
- Maintain the business rules supporting the corporate data model
- Maintain a model showing the physical layout and location of data
used by Service Center applications
- Perform the functions of the Data Administrator for Service Center
applications, including resolution of conflicting data names,
establishing common lookup tables, and setting a common domain for
sharable data elements, and establishing standards for unique keys
- Develop policies, procedures, and shared utilities and tools for
Service Center data management:
- Recommend Service Center data management policies
- Maintain a shared Data Management Handbook that documents common
data management procedures
- Coordinate implementation of CASE tools and other supporting data
management software
- Coordinate training for data managers as required
- Maintain a shared, central metadata repository for use by Service
Center agencies to store new and legacy metadata:
- Establish standard and sharable data elements to promote data reuse
- Provide a repository for storing agency metadata
- Make metadata accessible to system developers and other users
- Maintain a common listing of data name abbreviations, and acronyms
- Provide a consolidated voice to the Department and to other government
committees on data management issues.
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Technical Working Groups
TWG 1 - Data Administration,
Standards & Policy
TWG 2 - Data Management
Tools & Data Architecture
TWG 3 - Data Warehousing
Strategy
TWG 4 - Database
Administration Process
TWG 5 - Geospatial Data
Standards
Team 1: Data Administration, Standards & Policy
This team is responsible for the development and implementation of
Service Center data administration and management policies and data
administration standards, procedures and operating process. The policies
will guide BPR pilot efforts and new application development; and, to the
extent possible, ensure that pilot efforts result in applications that
conform to sound data management principles and are easily movable to
production status. This team will develop and implement an operational data
administration process for Service Center application development. Tasks
include developing and maintaining enterprise data models and metadata;
developing data administration standards and procedures; performing data
administration and data modeling functions for the BPR initiatives and for
production systems; managing a change control function; implementing and
managing a central metadata repository; maintaining the Service Center Data
Team World Wide Web site; and developing and delivering training for the
data administration process.
Team 2: Data Management Tools & Data
Architecture
This team is responsible for developing requirements and other
documentation to support the procurement of enterprise-wide data management
tools. These tools include Database Management Systems (DBMS), server-based
Geographic Information System (GIS) tools, Data Warehousing tools (including
data extract, cleanse and load functions), and other tools as identified.
The requirements developed will be used by the Common Computing Environment
(CCE) strategy group for actual procurements. DBMS requirements for the BPR
Pilot Sites will also be addressed.
This team is also responsible for development of a data architecture plan
that describes the network data configuration (physical placement of data
across the network) for implementation of BPR's. The plan will describe what
data and databases are located on a central server, decentralized servers
and local clients. Metrics will be used to assess movement of data through
the network so as to maximize the functionality and responsiveness of
software systems.
Team 3: Data Warehousing Strategy
This team is responsible for establishing data warehousing strategies.
User requirements studies will be conducted to determine the business needs
that can be filled by a data warehouse. Technical requirements for warehouse
systems to meet identified needs will be developed. Data migration and data
collection strategies for populating the selected data warehouse(s) will be
developed. The team will assist in implementing a data warehouse
architecture that satisfies the identified management information and
decision-support requirements.
Team 4: Database Administration Process
This team is responsible for development and implementation of a database
administration process. Database administration deals with the physical
management of the data, that is, the operation of data storage systems such
as DBMSs or file systems. The team will identify issues and concerns
regarding administration of mainframe and centralized mid-range databases.
Functions such as software upgrades, database server installation and
configuration, replication support, implementation of database structure
changes across the organization, mainframe middleware support, and
client/server configurations are topics to address. The team will also
develop and deliver training for the database administration process.
Team 5: Geospatial Data Standards
This team is responsible for establishment and management of USDA Service
Center enterprise-wide geospatial data standards and geospatial metadata
standards, supporting the concurrent USDA SC Strategy to develop a basic
nationally consistent set of core geospatial data that will provide a
foundation upon which to base business applications. The scope of their
activities is:
- Define the minimum set of geospatial data and geospatial metadata
standards required to support the geospatial data layers defined in the
USDA SC GIS Strategy.
- Provide the standards, policies and procedures for acquiring,
integrating and delivering minimum and "best available" geospatial data
and metadata within the USDA enterprise GIS.
- Coordinate with other federal, state and local agencies on topics
related to geospatial standards and raise issues to USDA Executive level.
- Recommend tools, policies and procedures for the acquisition and
management of geospatial metadata that is compatible the enterprise
metadata repository.
- Identify training requirements and support training activities for
USDA SC Data Stewards relating to geospatial data and metadata standards.
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