The release of SQL Server 2008 R2 Master Data Services is the beginning
of a new, more accessible era for master data management. Because of price
and complexity, most solutions on the market today are geared toward large
corporations and require dedicated consulting teams to implement. MDS, a feature of
SQL Server Enterprise Edition, was built to democratize this process, providing MDM
capabilities to a larger audience for a fraction of the price. MDS is meant to be rapidly
deployed to any size organization and can solve a variety of master data challenges.
This book is intended for anyone interested in the features of MDS. It is meant to
be used as an introduction, a learning tool, a training guide, and a reference manual.
Even if you have no experience with MDS, each chapter builds on the previous
chapter, so by the end of the book, you should be able to complete a majority of the
tasks needed for a working MDS implementation. If you are a consultant with prior
experience in the master data management market, you should find value in the
product overview and web service examples, which allow you to adapt your existing
MDM practice to support MDS.
Master Data Services is composed of some simple-to-understand components that
can be used in a variety of ways. In order to provide the clearest understanding for new
users, most of the book shows examples of standard, straightforward implementations.
Complex examples and edge cases have been omitted from the book for fear of confusing
the message. These complex topics are addressed in various resources you can find on the
Internet, including the MDS team blog, www.mdsmodeler.com, and www.mdsuser.com.