Don’t boil the ocean. Microsoft focused first on Customer , Product , and Employee . If you can get those three entities perfect—unique ID, no duplicates, lineage tracked—you solve 80% of the business problems.
By mastering data management first, Microsoft was able to layer AI on top safely. They can use LLMs to write SQL queries because they know the metadata is accurate. They can use AI to summarize sales calls because they know the governance rules regarding PII (Personally Identifiable Information). data management strategy at microsoft book
Microsoft’s story proves that boring wins. Governance wins. Metadata wins. Because when chaos is tamed, magic happens. Don’t boil the ocean
In the sprawling digital corridors of one of the world’s largest tech enterprises, a quiet revolution is underway. It is not about generative AI, nor cloud computing—though those are the byproducts. It is about something far more fundamental: By mastering data management first, Microsoft was able
★★★★★ (Essential for every CDO and CTO)