DCAM Framework

The world’s most adopted data management & analytics framework.

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Benefits of DCAM

Achieve data management and analytics best practices so that your organization can get the most value out of your data. DCAM is available exclusively to member firms.

Assess your data ecosystem

Conduct an objective self-assessment or use a DCAM Authorized Partner to identify gaps, see how your organization compares to peers and define your objectives.

Develop your business case

Support your strategic goals with unbiased peer group analysis, proven processes and target outcomes to make your business case and obtain funding for your data management program.

Create the vision that your organization needs

Demonstrate leadership to align your organization, advance your data management and analytics capabilities and increase the value of your data assets.

Gain flexibility while driving results

Take advantage of a practical, flexible framework that supports your program’s priorities and budget while producing measurable results.

Achieve best practices

Establish, enable and sustain a mature data management function to support digital transformation, advanced analytics such as AI and ML, and data ethics.

Streamline compliance demands

Achieve greater efficiency and accuracy with better managed data to meet regulatory and other compliance and reporting requirements, such as BCBS 239 and GDPR.

Applications of DCAM

Assess and identify the capabilities your organization requires investments in to mature your data management and analytics. DCAM is the most adopted framework because it was developed and is updated through collaboration with hundreds of industry data management professionals. It provides objective metrics as well as peer group benchmark comparisons which can be presented to stakeholders to secure necessary funding for your program.

Develop a more knowledgeable data organization with comprehensive training programs. Our DCAM training courses and professional certification aligns with the framework itself, ensuring that all staff and executives know what the capabilities are and how they can be implemented to build a more comprehensive and effective data management and analytics organization.

DCAM incorporates consistent terminology and definitions to resolve differences in meaning and ensure consistent understanding of data concepts across your lines of business and geographies. DCAM also includes standard definitions within the scoring models to produce objective outcomes as well as a Data Management Business Glossary for ongoing reference.

Conduct an assessment of your data management and analytics ecosystem either internally or with the additional outside expertise and experience of a DCAM Authorized Partner. Evaluate your programs, educate stakeholders, identify gaps and compare ongoing progress against industry peers. DCAM assessments provide demonstrable and auditable evidence to market authorities on the adoption of data management best practice.

With the confidence of a trusted framework in place to guide your priorities, you’ll know the steps to take to implement defined capabilities and demonstrate measurable progress. This supports strategic objectives to move the overall business forward such as through digital transformation, advanced analytics including AI and ML, and organization-wide data ethics to increase trust in the data that stakeholders are depending on.

Compliance in any industry is greatly dependent on accuracy and access to data. DCAM directly maps to many compliance and regulatory requirements, such as the risk data principles of BCBS 239 and data privacy regulations such as GDPR. Furthermore, DCAM is used by various regulators in publishing their guidelines to the marketplace. So using DCAM often means that you are using the same framework as the regulators.

About DCAM

DCAM—the Data Management Capability Assessment Model—is developed and maintained via collaboration of EDM Council members. It enables organizations to have trust and confidence that the data and analytics programs are built on industry best practices and have been proven across industry.

What are the core components?

The eight key components of DCAM provide a structured framework across both the data supply chain — from establishing a data management foundation through the application of analytics.

How is DCAM constructed?

DCAM is built as a series of 38 required data management capabilities with 136 sub-capabilities, spanning objectives, questions, artifacts of evidence and criteria for scoring.

How is DCAM scored?

DCAM measures data management capabilities and progress using a scoring matrix to evaluate engagement and processes with auditable evidence.

Latest DCAM Framework Additions

DCAM v2.2 added the eight component for Analytics Management. Map previous versions with models developed by Solidatus

DCAM v3 is in development! Learn more about the latest progress, or get involved with defining the next version

Members can access an advanced read-only DCAM modeling tool, which is provided by Solidatus for free. Upgrades are also available.

Case Studies: Trusted by Industry-leading Data-Driven Companies

"To measure the strength, effectiveness, and adoption levels of the Bank’s data management practices, the Bank regularly conducts independent DCAM assessments."

Fifth Third Bank
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“With DCAM, we have been able to unify our data strategy across TVS Motor entities and departments. We are now getting greater value out of our data, and it is now at the core of everything we do.”

TVS Motors
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"We're very excited to be the first cloud platform to adopt this new standard to help further accelerate the industry's move to the cloud."

Snowflake
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"The use of DCAM will help to continually investigate our baseline and progress for data maturity."

Lloyds
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Get Started with DCAM

Members can take advantage of EDM Council’s programs to support your organization’s journey towards data management and analytics best practices.

The DCAM framework is available for download and use exclusively by member firms of EDM Council for their in-house data management programs. DCAM Authorized Partners are also entitled to use DCAM in their client assessments and engagements.

Learn more about Membership and its benefits for firms, including DCAM.

EDM Council member firms can download the DCAM framework and additional resources on the DCAM User Group.

Login to this website with your EDMConnect credentials.

The EDMC Knowledge Portal is a community of EDM Council member practitioners dedicated to the advancement and adoption of industry standard data management processes, tools, and constructs based on the DCAM™ and CDMC™ frameworks.

Visit the DCAM Knowledge Portal.

DCAM Training is key for all of your organization’s staff to understand the requirements for sustainable data management and analytics as defined by DCAM. The EDM Council provides both live, virtual training classes as well as on-demand eLearning. Students who complete the course can attain professional DCAM certification.

Learn more about DCAM Training.

The DCAM User Group is an online community where you can learn and stay connected to all activities and developments of the DCAM best practice program.

  • Learn about all current and upcoming activities
  • Access best practice tools and processes – including the full DCAM framework
  • Access additional tools from our partners, such as survey tools to support your in-house DCAM assessment
  • Create new best practice forum topics and participate in discussions
  • Submit your best practice
  • Subscribe to notification updates across the program

Login to the website to join the DCAM User Group

Assess your organization’s data management and analytics maturity using DCAM. Whether you choose to start with an in-house assessment or engage one of our DCAM Authorized Partners, a DCAM assessment will let you know where your data stands, how you compare against peer organizations and help you plan your forward-looking data strategy.

Learn more about DCAM Assessments.