🫱🏻‍🫲🏽Match-Link Rules

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Match-link rules define criteria to associate related but non-duplicate records, creating links without merging them.

DESCRIPTION

Match-link rules establish relationships between records deemed related but not duplicates, such as household or account-person links. They enable connected views without consolidating attributes into a single record. Link rules often rely on common identifiers, proximity, or relationship evidence. Governance ensures appropriate link types and prevents accidental merges. These rules complement merge policies in MDM to build rich 360-degree perspectives.

ALTERNATIVE DEFINITIONS

IBM InfoSphere MDM

Entities can be linked to represent relationships without merging them into a single record.

Clarifies linking as relationship representation distinct from merging.

Source

Informatica MDM

Match and link processes establish relationships among records that are not duplicates.

Highlights match-link as separate from duplication handling.

Source

RELATED TERMS

Matching Identity Resolution Master Data Management Single Source of Truth Survivorship Rules Householding Graph Linking Relation Governance

COMPETING TERMS

Match-Merge Rules

KNOWLEDGE AREAS

Data Management Reference & Master Data Data Governance Data Quality Data Architecture

TARGET AUDIENCE

Data Steward Data Architect Data Modeler Data Engineer Information Analyst

EXTERNAL SOURCES

• Wikipedia - Master data management
• IBM - MDM hub concepts including linking
• Semarchy xDM - Matching and linking relationships
• Reltio - Modeling and managing relationships

TOP QUESTIONS

What are Match-Link Rules in MDM?

They define criteria to create relationships between related but non-duplicate records, enabling connected views without merging.

Category: Definition

How do Match-Link Rules differ from Match-Merge Rules?

Match-link connects records via relationships; match-merge consolidates duplicates into a single record.

Category: Distinction

When are Match-Link Rules used?

Use them for householding, account-person, and other associations where records should remain distinct.

Category: UseCases

What risks exist with Match-Link Rules?

Incorrect links can misrepresent relationships; governance and stewardship must validate link creation.

Category: Risk

How are Match-Link Rules implemented?

Define link types, evidentiary criteria, and thresholds, then automate link creation in MDM systems.

Category: Implementation

What data supports Match-Link Rules?

Shared identifiers, transaction context, household addresses, or relationship tables provide linking signals.

Category: Requirements

Can Match-Link Rules coexist with merges?

Yes, systems often link related entities while merging true duplicates, enriching 360-degree views.

Category: BestPractices

How are Match-Link Rules governed?

Define link policies, audit trails, and stewardship workflows to review and correct links.

Category: Governance

How do Match-Link Rules affect analytics?

They enable network views and roll-ups across related entities, improving insights without losing entity granularity.

Category: Impact