In this two-part series, which posts as the calendar prepares to turn 2015 into 2016, I revisit the top data management topics of 2015 (Part 1) and then try to predict a few of the data management trends of 2016 (Part 2).

Data management in 2015

Big data continued to make data management headlines in 2015, but there was a noticeable shift in attention to its quality, with a growing realization that data quality still matters in large data sets. Big data, however, continued to challenge (and rightfully so), perspectives about how much quality data needs in order to be useful. As big data was put to more and more business uses, it also reinforced the importance of metadata, especially since a lot of big data is externally created, which makes big data governance such a challenge.

The externality of the majority of big data (e.g., open data, streaming data, cloud data) also influenced the 2015 prioritization of managing data beyond organizational boundaries, what David Loshin refers to as extra-enterprise data management. In 2015 more and more organizations embraced the benefits of managing data where it is – including minimizing data movement, improving productivity, reusing data management techniques, improving data governance and sharing valuable skills such as data stewardship.

In 2015 there was also a lot of effort focused on integrating big data into more traditional and business-critical applications, such as master data management, where identity, relevancy and privacy remain big challenges.

What say you?

Where were your data management efforts focused in 2015? Did any of your data management priorities shift throughout the year? Please share your experiences and perspectives by posting a comment below.