Data Dictionary
Data dictionary helps to manage the details in large-scale systems as most systems are ongoing and dynamic and management of all the descriptive details is difficult, therefore an accurate and consistent recording technique is essential. It facilitates to communicate a common meaning for all of the elements in the system and to document features of the system.Documenting these features will produce a more complete and better understanding of the system for the analyst.
UITS has developed this central metadata repository to store all the information about the data around different subject areas through a collaborative effort working with data users. This database will provide a baseline for any data mart project while gathering user requirements. The resulting definitions include the title, description, context, and usage of an element, as well as instructions on how to extract or derive it from transactional data sources. From the initial design and testing phases through the data mart’s implementation for institutional use, these definitions are continuously reviewed and refined for accuracy and completeness – by the data mart development team, the relevant data stewards, and members of the user community as they are applied to reporting needs.