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A professional-level summary covering key definitions, frameworks, and exam-relevant points.
DMBOK Definitions
Data Governance (DMBOK v2): "The exercise of authority, control, and shared decision-making over the management of data assets." It is the function that provides direction and oversight to all other data management activities.
Data Management (DMBOK v2): "The development, execution, and supervision of plans, policies, programs, and practices that deliver, control, protect, and enhance the value of data and information assets throughout their lifecycles." It encompasses all 11 DMBOK knowledge areas, including governance.
Comparison Table
| Dimension | Data Governance | Data Management |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Authority, accountability, decision-making | Execution, operations, technical implementation |
| Key question | Who decides? What are the rules? | How do we implement the rules? |
| Key roles | CDO, Data Owner, Governance Council | Data Engineer, DBA, Data Steward, Analyst |
| Outputs | Policies, standards, accountability frameworks | Databases, pipelines, quality reports, metadata |
| DMBOK position | Hub of the DMBOK wheel | All 11 spokes of the DMBOK wheel |
CDMP Exam Significance
This distinction is tested in multiple CDMP domains, not just Data Governance. Understanding that governance provides direction while management executes is essential for correctly answering questions about data stewardship, data quality management, metadata management, and data architecture. It is one of the most important conceptual foundations for achieving a high CDMP score.