Business semantics describes metadata, reconciled to have consistent organizational terms and meanings. While business metadata describes data to enhance business value, business semantics makes up a sub-set of this metadata, the vocabulary. Business semantics can result in a business glossary, but it may take on a combination of different formats. Conceptual data models, data catalogs, business glossaries, and Data Governance practices and processes may also have business semantics.
The DAMA-DMBoK2 describes business semantics resulting from querying, reporting, and analyzing metadata.
Other Definitions Business Semantics Include:
- A “controlled vocabulary and associated information governance policies and rules” about a particular business (IBM)
- “A context and means to evaluate data content against business requirements.” (InfoWorld)
- “A semantic layer bridging the gap between the data structure and business value.” (SAP Community)
- “An interface between Enterprise Information Management and a Web of Data.” (SpringerLink)
- “Information about all the business entities that the organization depends on to communicate and structure the understanding of the areas they operate within.” (Architecture & Governance)
Business Semantic Use Cases Include:
- Connecting business semantics to physical metadata to get more data intelligence
- Applying business semantics management, through the European Codrive project, resulting in a Semantic Pattern Base for stakeholders to reconcile competency models
- Integrating business semantics with real-time IoT data to get better business analysis
Businesses Use Business Semantics to:
- Bridge communications between business and IT
- Provide a clear and unambiguous meaning of business terms, taxonomies, and other hierarchies
- Have better capabilities to manage business metadata
- Gain data intelligence
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