Erstwhile metadata nomenclature includes classifications such as technical, business, and operational metadata. These classes, however, fail to speak to the value of metadata. Robust, integrated metadata solutions will aid in using, developing, and operating the data warehouse. Definitional metadata fosters improved understanding of information sources. Navigational metadata that provides links and expresses relationships between enterprise objects to ensure their accessibility and ease of use.
Navigational metadata helps locate information as the information supply chain evolves.
Administrative metadata that captures the lineage, use, and transformation of enterprise objects over time to ensure their performance and integrity. Administrative metadata builds trust and confidence in information sources. A formal understanding of these enterprise objects will enable improved business agility and ensure ongoing survival. For IT organizations, metadata interchange standards will drive improved reuse, freedom of tool choice, and application delivery performance. Emergent metadata standards vary in their applicability, based on an enterprise's existing infrastructure and its overall metadata objectives.