https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN41492-PPM_CIO-036-000-WEB-1.pdf
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER
107 ARMY PENTAGON
WASHINGTON DC 20310-0107
ADD-GOV-DS-036
SAIS-ADD (25-1rrrr) 18 July 2024
MEMORANDUM FOR SEE DISTRIBUTION
SUBJECT: Army Enterprise Data Product Definition
1. References.
a. CDAO (DoD Data, Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence Adoption Strategy),
27 June 2023. (Available at https://www.ai.mil. Refer to the box in the upper right of the
homepage.)
b. HQDA ASA (ALT) and CIO (Army Unified Data Reference Architecture, v.1.0),
22 March 2024. (Available via URL at https://datacatalog.army.mil/asset/956aa9c2-d885-
4859-a42d-ae0291a92d6f)
c. Mission Command Center of Excellence Combined Arms Center concept of
operations (Decision-Driven Data Concept of Operations), 6 July 2023. (Available at
https://datacatalog.army.mil/rest/2.0/attachments/0e52ae5e-1198-49d9-8359-
94b222282617/file)
d. HQDA CIO memorandum (Army Data Stewardship Roles and Responsibilities
(Fiscal Year 2024)), 2 April 2024. (Available at
https://datacatalog.army.mil/rest/2.0/attachments/0595d2aa-7f5c-4ef7-8bd6-
acf91ccf9584/file)
2. Purpose.
a. This memorandum provides a definition of the term "data product" that is
applicable across the Army enterprise.1 Additionally, it establishes the individuals or
departments responsible for managing the development of these products and
supporting the product lifecycle.
b. This memorandum provides a definition and some important context. A definition
of data product as well as some related terms can also be found in the Army Data
1 This memorandum describes, for Army usage, the data product concept popularized by Zhamak
Dehghani in 2019. It is not about the data product as defined in MIL-STD-963C and used in Data Item
Descriptions.
SAIS-ADD (25-1rrrr)
SUBJECT: Army Enterprise Data Product Definition
Management and Analytics Lexicon, the official lexicon of the Army Chief Data and
Analytics Officer (CDAO) and the Army Chief Information Officer (CIO) Data Integration
Division. It can be accessed from the homepage of the Army Data Catalog.
3. Background. As discussed in the DoD Data, Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence
Adoption Strategy (reference 1a), treating data as a product contributes to data
advantage and facilitates data-driven decision making.
4. Scope. Although the Definition and Requirements section below applies Army-wide,
the Responsibilities section need only be applied to data products for Army-wide
release or for cross-command use (as opposed to use by the originating organization
only). This memorandum applies to data products at all classification levels.
5. Definition and Requirements.
a. A data product is a pre-packaged set of data and metadata produced to satisfy
consumers' mission or business demand. Data products are designed to be high quality,
easy to use, self-describing and computationally governed.
b. High quality is in the judgement of the approving data steward, in coordination
with the developers and existing policy. At present, existing policy includes the Unified
Data Reference Architecture (UDRA) v.1.0 (reference 1b) and the registration
requirements of the Army Data Catalog. Also, the concept of computational governance
is described in reference 1b.
c. Data is persisted at the point of origin where the original data domain published
the data product. Data products are not centrally located or shared. All consumption of
data products goes back to the original producing data domain. With the right access
permissions, end user devices consume and visualize data products for decision
makers.
d. Data product development must follow the Enterprise Decision-Making Process
outlined in the Decision-Driven Data Concept of Operations (reference 1c).
e. A data product is a high-quality data set that should be reused by multiple
consumers when possible.
f. Data products may integrate data from multiple authoritative sources.
g. The conceptualization of a data product is not tied to any individual system.
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SAIS-ADD (25-1rrrr)
SUBJECT: Army Enterprise Data Product Definition
h. The integration logic realized in a data product is authoritative as it illustrates the
proper way to combine disparate sources of data for the intended purpose of the data
product.
i. The goal of producing data products is to simplify and speed up analysis so that
users and analysts are not burdened with understanding multiple data sources and
integration logic. Data products facilitate data sharing and enable faster decision
making.
j. Refer to the UDRA document (reference 1b) for more information on data
products.
6. Responsibilities.
a. Data products are identified and overseen by a Functional Data Manager (FDM)
and approved by a Data Steward.
b. The responsibility of Data Stewards and FDMs is to oversee the quality of the
specific data elements that appear in a data product, and not for the entire data source
system(s). However, if data quality issues are identified within the data product, the
Data Stewards and FDMs will work with the owners of the source systems to resolve
them.
c. Data Stewards and FDMs will ensure that data products, their metadata, and
associated Application Programming Interface (API) endpoints are properly registered
and discoverable in the Army Data Catalog at the proper classification level for use
across the Army. Current minimum metadata requirements are as listed in UDRA 1.0
(reference 1b).
d. With respect to quality, Data Stewards and FDMs will ensure that data products
meet the registration requirements of the ADC, including VAULTIS metrics, and are
consistent with UDRA 1.0 (reference 1b).
e. The FDM associated with the initial identification of the data product oversees the
full lifecycle of the data product, including integration of data from other domains. The
Data Steward, and, if necessary, the associated Mission Area Data Officer (MADO),
resolves inter-domain issues.
f. If the domain ownership of a data product is unclear, it is the role of the MADO
and CDAO to resolve ambiguity. This might happen, for example, when a consumer
requests a particular data product and its natural functional domain is ambiguous.
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SAIS-ADD (25-1rrrr)
SUBJECT: Army Enterprise Data Product Definition
g. The FDM and the Data Steward manage the Service Level Agreements and
entire lifecycle of the data product in an ongoing manner.
h. The FDM receives feedback from consumers to update and improve the product
in accordance with consumers’ needs.
i. Data Stewards and FDMs must execute their responsibilities as identified in the
Army Data Stewardship Roles and Responsibilities memorandum (reference 1d).
j. Commanders and other decision makers will make use of data products, when
they exist, to back analysis. If relevant data products do not exist they should request
them from the applicable data steward.
Intended Effect. The term ‘data product’ has many definitions across the industry, as
well as definitions applying specifically to particular contexts, such as data mesh. This
memorandum provides a common base understanding across the broad Army for what
a data product is and how it is governed, which will facilitate how they are developedand
used.
Duration. The CIO is the proponent for this guidance. This guidance is effective upon
signature and stays in effect until rescinded or superseded.
Points of Contact.
D CIO Policy Inbox at usarmy.pentagon.hqda-cio.mbx.policy-inbox@army.mil
E OCIO, Data Integration Division, at usarmy.data.management@army.mil
F Mr. Alfred Hull, Data Integration Division, alfred.d.hull2.civ@army.mil
Digitally signed by
GARCIGA.LE GARCIGA.LEONEL.T.11
ONEL.T.1186 86170411
Date: 2024.07.18
170411 13:11:49 -04'00'
LEONEL T. GARCIGA
Chief Information Officer
DISTRIBUTION:
Principal Officials of Headquarters, Department of the Army
Commander
U.S. Army Forces Command
U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command
(CONT)
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SAIS-ADD (25-1rrrr)
SUBJECT: Army Enterprise Data Product Definition
DISTRIBUTION: (CONT)
U.S. Army Materiel Command
U.S. Army Futures Command
U.S. Army Pacific
U.S. Army Europe and Africa
U.S. Army Central
U.S. Army North
U.S. Army South
U.S. Army Special Operations Command
Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command
U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Strategic Command
U.S. Army Cyber Command
U.S. Army Medical Command
U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
U.S. Army Military District of Washington
U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command
U.S. Army Human Resources Command
U.S. Army Corrections Command
U.S. Army Recruiting Command
Superintendent, U.S. Military Academy
Commandant, U.S. Army War College
Director, U.S. Army Civilian Human Resources Agency
Executive Director, Military Postal Service Agency
Director, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division
Director, Civilian Protection Center of Excellence
Director, U.S. Army Joint Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office
Superintendent, Arlington National Cemetery
Director, U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center
CF:
Principal Cyber Advisor
Director of Enterprise Management
Director, Office of Analytics Integration
Commander, Eighth Army
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