Day-to-day business functions in large organizations are often handled by a range of sophisticated software application packages - SAP, Oracle, Salesforce, and Microsoft being some of the most well-known. These packages all use some kind of database to store their data. However, the metadata that defines these databases is frequently complex and opaque. This means it is difficult for it to be easily accessed and used to support information management projects often causing delays and cost overruns.

This session describes how the leading application packages store and use their own metadata, and why getting an understanding of that metadata is important, and it examines the obstacles in getting at that metadata in a timely and effective manner.

It also suggests a methodology for metadata discovery and explores what tools are available to data professionals to facilitate its exploitation through the use of real-life case studies.

Topics:

• Secrets and challenges of packaged application metadata
• Why it is important for Information Management projects
• Approaches and techniques for metadata discovery
• Exploiting metadata - case studies