Finger Family of MDM Data Model (What are Hands?)

I hope in previous topic give you a clearer understanding of the difference between Transaction Data and Master Data. In short, Transaction Data changes more frequently over time (daily, hourly, minutes, second, or milliseconds), whereas Master Data remains relatively stable as it serves as the foundation for business operations.

Think of a Master Data Model like a hand—each finger represents a distinct Master Data entity, such as Customer, Product, Employee, or Supplier. Each finger has its unique role and identity, just like every master data domain serves a different business function.

While each finger functions independently, they are all connected through the same hand—working together to grasp, hold, and act with precision. Similarly, a well-structured Master Data Model brings these entities together under a unified framework, enabling data to flow smoothly, support decision-making, and ensure consistent governance across the organization.

Let's use a hospital as an example for better understand how a Master Data Model works in a real-world scenario. Just like diagram below illustrate a hospital handles vast amounts of data daily, including patient records, doctor schedules, assessment procedures, diagnosis results, medical supplies, billing information, Insurance claims, and more.

There’s a lot of data flowing through a hospital, right? Now, let’s take a closer look at how this hospital operates from both an organizational and patient perspective by simulate a Master Data Management Use Case:

Hospital Structure & Data Management

This hospital is part of ABC Corporate, which owns 32 hospital branches nationwide. Each branch operates independently, using its own on-premises core system to manage patient records, medical supplies, billing, and other related data. However, these systems do not share information across branches, meaning each hospital maintains and manages its own data separately.

A Patient’s Journey Through the Hospital System

Now, let’s consider a real-world patient scenario, Mr. Muthu, to understand the challenges of this setup.

The Challenge: Data Fragmentation

Mr. Muthu previously received treatment at ABC Hospital Kuala Lumpur in his younger years, where he recovered, was discharged, and moved forward with his life. 

19 years later, he was admitted to another ABC Hospital in Penang, where his name has changed due to his is a Muslim now, and his home address was updated from Kuala Lumpur to Penang Island.

Since ABC’s hospital branches do not share data, when Muthu was admitted in Penang, his past medical records from Kuala Lumpur were not readily available. The hospital in Penang only had access to his new details, assuming him to be a different patient due to the name and address change. 

Although his date of birth and blood type remained the same, the system had no way to link his past medical history, potentially leading to duplicate records, missing critical health information, and risks in treatment decisions.

Does this sound familiar?

The issue of data fragmentation isn’t limited to hospital branches—it can happen across departments, business units, or even between colleagues. For those working in large corporations, navigating through multiple departments, corporate entities, or regional branches often comes with significant challenges, especially when it comes to managing and accessing data.

Yet, the business expectation remains unchanged: to deliver consistent, high-quality service while maintaining a clear and accurate understanding of your client’s history and preferences.

A question to consider: Given the existence of siloed data across different branches, departments, and business units, how can we establish a single, unified view of our clients, products, and vendors? How can we align data across the organization to create a consistent and reliable reference point for better decision-making?

Join us in our next topic to explore how we can tackle the challenges faced in the hospital scenario:

“Finger Family of MDM Data Model – How to Make Your Hands Work for You?”

Discover how a well-structured Master Data Model can align data across systems, eliminate duplication, and create a single, unified view to drive better decision-making!