Introducing the reference solution architecture for SAP Master Data Governance

In recent engagements with SAP Master Data Governance customers and prospects, we received repeated feedback where people stated that they’d appreciate it if they had an easy-to-follow visualization of the key process flows in the processing of master data. This would help them a lot in understanding how central governance, consolidation, or data quality management can be applied in a given master data domain.

We took the message, and in synch with our Intelligent Enterprise program, we now offer a blueprint for Master Data Management in the SAP Business Accelerator Hub. With this Reference Solution Architecture for SAP Master Data Governance everybody can explore the solution scope and key capabilities.

Business processes overview

Solution Variants for Master Data Management

Solution variants for Master Data Management

With SAP Master Data Governance on SAP S/4HANA 2023, we have introduced federated master data governance, which can be chosen alternatively to the centrally-managed approach.

Federated MDG combines the advantages of central master data management with the advantages of a decentralized approach, allowing master data to be managed where it is best understood.

Therefore, we deliver two solution variants for SAP MDG on SAP S/4HANA 2023:

Additionally, organizations seeking a smaller governance focus (only core business partner data) can kick it off at low entry barriers with SAP Master Data Governance, cloud edition:

SAP Master Data Governance, cloud edition is a SaaS solution for the governance of core business partner attributes based on SAP One Domain Model; more domains are planned according to information provided in the SAP Roadmap Explorer.

For SAP Master Data Governance, cloud edition 2308 we deliver the following solution variant:

For each of the described solution variants we use the following diagram types:

• Solution Value Flow Diagram
• Solution Component Diagram
• Solution Data Flow Diagram
• Solution Process Flow Diagram

Let me explain these diagram types based on the example of the solution variant Centrally Managed Master Data Governance on S/4HANA:

Solution Value Flow Diagram

A Solution Value Flow Diagram is a simple abstract representation of a solution process focusing on the value-adding activities and their technical implementation.

Solution Value Flow Diagrams provide an easy-to-understand representation of how a business process variant is realized and supported by a specific solution.

It provides a first overview of the process including solution components, solution capabilities and associated application roles.

To see more explanations, you can click on the Business Activities:

Solution Component Diagram

A Solution Component Diagram visualizes the main solution components, describes structural groupings, and the communication channels between deployment units of a given solution variant.
They help to understand which solution components are required and which communication scenarios must be set up.

To see more details, you can click on the components.

Solution Data Flow Diagram

A Solution Data Flow Diagram (or, Data Flow Diagram in short) represents the typical data flow between solution components and the relevant solution data objects.

As an example, the following diagram depicts the data flow for the domain Business Partner.

Solution Process Flow Diagram

The Solution Process Flow Diagram is a behavioral diagram that is used to describe a concrete process flow of a solution process. For each solution variant we have several Process Flow Diagrams to explain the different possibilities to start a governance process.

We use BPMN 2.0 to model the process flows. The components which are relevant for the process flow are represented in the diagram as a pool or lane and each process step is placed in the component where it is executed.

As an example, the following diagram depicts the process flow Central Creation or Change of Business Partners.

The message flows between the solution components describe the integration.
To see more details on the integration, you can click on the message flow.

How to find the Reference Solution Architecture for SAP Master Data Governance

The Reference Solution Architecture is published on the Business Accelerator Hub.

Navigate to Explore > Business Processes > Master Data Management to find the solution variants.

We hope that you find the process visualizations helpful to familiarize yourself with the key processes in SAP Master Data Governance.

To stay up to date, simply follow the SAP Community Topic Page for SAP Master Data Governance, join the Questions & Answers forum and Blog space, and check the MDG roadmap for all MDG versions.

Best, Karin Blank