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July 20, 2006

Debunking the Metadata Quality Myth

Of a period of years, one of the reoccurring statements from the so called experts is that if you allow multiple people update metadata content then chaos would follow. Very well known, authors even made the comment that if an end user comes to the metadata repository and finds poor quality they will never return. What these myths and expert opinions fail to see is the transformation of value based information. Perhaps in the past, it was acceptable for controlling the message by a few and disseminating to the masses but that no longer holds value. By the time the gate keepers allow the information the opportunities will be gone.

We have seen with Internet organizations like Wikipedia that chaos does not ensue with open access but the exact opposite. The quality of the information increases and eventually converges to a common point of view. Yet, we still hold onto the ideals that only a few people in the organization have the metadata knowledge. What’s worse is that not only do people believe they are the only source they still believe in the value of hoarding it.

I will steal a line from Batman I; this industry needs an enema.

Posted by Todd at July 20, 2006 2:53 PM