The Enterprise Schema

Abstract

All four types of enterprise metadata discussed in chapter 1 are integrated in the metadatabase; which itself is constructed as an independent database to support the organic architecture of EIM. Therefore, the metadatabase calls for a schema for itself — the schema of the enterprise metadata. A particular metadata representation method is developed to facilitate this task and is referred to as the Global Information Resources Dictionary (GIRD) model. With this design, the generic concept of a metadatabase is made particular to provide certain unique functionalities critical to an EM. Based on the GIRD model, the metadatabase is also capable of serving as the global schema for the enterprise integrating multiple databases. A global schema designed this way possesses unique properties and advantages over the traditional designs of muti-databases, which all rely on schema integration methods that are connective in nature rather than fusing and hence are difficult to evolve.