It encompasses all manual and automated data that are in or available to the organization, whether they are disparate or integrated. Since a problem cannot be solved with the same technique by which it was created, the techniques that created disparate data cannot be used to solve that disparity. The common data architecture is the new approach for solving data disparity and developing an integrated data resource. The common data architecture contains four components. Data description specifies the formal naming and comprehensive definition of data.
Data structure specifies the arrangement and relationship of logical and physical data.
Data fidelity specifies the integrity, accuracy, and completeness of data. The common data architecture provides one architecture for all data megatypes as well as current and historical data. It stops the development of disparate data and promotes the integration of data. All data are designed within a common context and deployed as necessary to support business activities. The common data architecture is not one central database.