Master Data Management System for Centrally Managing Core Reference Data Associated with an Enterprise

A method for centrally managing core enterprise reference data associated with an enterprise, comprising:

• providing a centralized master repository containing the core enterprise reference data;
• providing an internal services framework that is coupled to the centralized master repository and providing internal services for managing the core enterprise reference data within the centralized master repository, one or more of the internal services having direct access to the core enterprise reference data stored in the centralized master repository for management purposes;
• and
• providing an infrastructure services layer that is coupled to the centralized master repository and provides for bulk data transfers of core enterprise reference data between the centralized master repository and one or more external operational systems according to one or more enterprise-level business workflows, the external operational systems being permitted indirect access to the core enterprise reference data stored in the centralized master repository for operational purposes,
• one or more of the enterprise-level business workflows being embedded within the system and being wholly or partially automated using an enterprise-level workflow engine to wholly or partially automate one or more associated enterprise-level business processes.

Software for centrally managing core enterprise reference data associated with an enterprise, the software being embodied in one or more computer-readable media and when executed using a computer system operable to:

• interact with a centralized master repository containing the core enterprise reference data;
• provide an internal services framework that is coupled to the centralized master repository and provides internal services for managing the core enterprise reference data within the centralized master repository, one or more of the internal services having direct access to the core enterprise reference data stored in the centralized master repository for management purposes;
• and
• provide an infrastructure services layer that is coupled to the centralized master repository and provides for bulk data transfers of core enterprise reference data between the centralized master repository and one or more external operational systems according to one or more enterprise-level business workflows, the external operational systems being permitted indirect access to the core enterprise reference data stored in the centralized master repository for operational purposes,
• one or more of the enterprise-level business workflows being embedded within the software and being wholly or partially automated using an enterprise-level workflow engine to wholly or partially automate one or more associated enterprise-level business processes.