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A professional-level summary covering key definitions, frameworks, and exam-relevant points.
Framework Comparison
| Framework | Owner | Focus | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAMA DMBOK | DAMA International | Comprehensive data management | All organisations; CDMP certification |
| COBIT | ISACA | IT governance including data | IT-focused governance programmes |
| IBM DG Maturity Model | IBM | Governance maturity assessment | Benchmarking and roadmap development |
| DCAM | EDM Council | Data management capability | Financial services organisations |
| Gartner Framework | Gartner | Business-outcome focused governance | Organisations prioritising business value |
Framework vs Programme
A framework is the blueprint; a programme is the building. The framework tells you what a governance programme should contain and how it should work. The programme is the actual implementation — the people, processes, and tools that deliver governance in your specific organisation. Most organisations adopt one or more frameworks as the basis for their programme design, then customise the implementation to their specific context.
CDMP Exam Relevance
The CDMP exam is based on the DAMA DMBOK framework. Questions about governance frameworks test whether candidates understand the DMBOK's structure (11 knowledge areas), the key components of a governance framework, and how different frameworks compare. The CDMP exam does not require deep knowledge of non-DMBOK frameworks, but candidates should understand that multiple frameworks exist and that the DMBOK is the most comprehensive.