DAMA SA – CDMP & Specialist Q&A

Executive Summary

This webinar will be on the introduction of strategic partnerships and the new CDMP Support Program, which aims to provide valuable resources for career pathing and exploring archetypes and thinking styles. Participants will gain insights into the benefits and value proposition of CDMP certification, as well as effective exam strategies and a clear understanding of question structures to better prepare. Additionally, a community Q&A session will encourage discussion on future topics of interest, fostering an engaged and informed participant base.

Webinar Details

Title: DAMA SA – CDMP & Specialist Q&A
Date: 2021-04-21
Presenter: Veronica & Howard Diesel
Meetup Group: DAMA SA User Group Monthly Meeting
Write-up Author: Howard Diesel

Upcoming Events and Community Activities

DAMA Southern Africa has unveiled an impressive lineup of events scheduled for May 2021, showcasing its commitment to fostering continuous learning and professional development among its members. The programming includes a Big Data and Data Science session on Monday, May 17th, following the success of a recent presentation on Twitter analysis. Highlighting the calendar is the DAMA SA Chapter Meeting on Wednesday, May 19th, where OneTrust will present insights on their data privacy tool, drawing from their extensive collaboration with top legal professionals in South Africa.

In addition to these key events, the schedule features “Ins and Outs of Data Modelling” on May 3rd and “Data Protection for Data Management Professionals” on May 12th. Weekly initiatives include CDMP Q&A sessions every Friday at 10:00 AM, led by Veronica, alongside Career Pathing discussions each Thursday. As Paul’s Master Data series wraps up this month, a focus on Data Literacy will take over in June, ensuring that members consistently access specialised knowledge and resources throughout the year.

Figure 1 CDMP Q&A (and any other DAMA Related Questions)

Figure 2 Upcoming Events

Figure 3 Calendar

Strategic Partnerships and the New CDMP Support Program

DAMA Southern Africa recently unveiled two innovative initiatives to enhance the accessibility and appeal of certification for professionals. The organisation is collaborating with DAMA India to provide comprehensive support for individuals navigating the CDMP certification process, ensuring they have the resources needed to succeed. Additionally, the introduction of the CDMP Support Program, which features a cash-back incentive structure, underscores DAMA SA’s commitment to making professional development financially viable for self-funded members.

The cash-back initiative offers tiered rewards based on certification levels—20% for Associate, 30% for Practitioner, and an impressive 50% for Master certification. This program particularly benefits self-funded candidates, as it excludes those sponsored by their companies, thereby encouraging more professionals to pursue certification.

Community feedback has been overwhelmingly positive; members like Zinita and Zelda have praised the initiative for providing financial support and fostering membership growth. Howard also highlighted that the partnership with DAMA India will enhance training support, particularly through extensive practice questions, which many candidates find essential for exam preparation.

Figure 4 DAMA CDMP Support Program

Career Pathing, Archetypes, and Thinking Styles

Veronica Diesel has pioneered an innovative approach to career development in data management by utilising the mountain climber metaphor, which likens a career trajectory to an expedition, emphasising that the view from the summit justifies the effort of the climb. This initiative, led by DAMA SA, aims to provide professionals with tailored assessment tools that address the unique demands of data management roles, thereby filling a significant void left by standard HR evaluations.

At the heart of this initiative is Gregorc’s Thinking Styles framework, which categorises individuals into four distinct personality types based on two crucial dimensions: Concrete versus Abstract and Sequential versus Random. This framework not only helps identify the strengths of Abstract Sequential professionals, who excel in theoretical domains, and Concrete Sequential individuals, who are adept project managers, but also highlights the relational abilities of Abstract Random thinkers and the innovative risk-taking of Concrete Random types. By integrating this model with Gallup’s StrengthsFinder assessment, DAMA SA aims to determine whether particular thinking styles align with specific strengths, ultimately creating a comprehensive framework for effective career guidance in data management.

Figure 5 CDMP Q&A

Figure 6 Data Management Archetypes

Figure 7 Thinking Styles

Figure 8 Thinking Styles pt.2

CDMP Certification Benefits and Value Proposition

The CDMP certification stands out as a globally recognised credential that offers professionals a significant advantage in the job market by broadening their career opportunities across international borders. Unlike other certifications that primarily validate technical skills, the CDMP emphasises a comprehensive understanding of data management principles. This involves not only mastering the “how” of task execution but also grasping the fundamental “why” and “what” that guide effective data stewardship in accordance with the DAMA methodology.

Furthermore, the certification is structured into three levels—Associate, Practitioner, and Master—each designed to cater to different experience levels and professional goals. The open-book exam is based on the DAMA-DMBOK Version 2 and assesses knowledge across all 14 core chapters in Data Management Fundamentals.

Candidates must have either a physical copy or a PDF on a separate device to adhere to proctoring guidelines. Each achieved level also includes a LinkedIn-compatible badge through Badgr, enhancing professional visibility and recognition, while the timeless knowledge gained remains relevant despite technological advancements.

Figure 9 What are the Benefits of CDMP Certification?

Figure 10 The DAMA- DMBoK Version 2

Figure 11 Data Management Assessment Process

Figure 12 Certification Level and Requirements

Exam Strategy, Question Structure, and Preparation

The CDMP exam is meticulously designed to evaluate candidates’ proficiency in data management across various domains, with a particular emphasis on Data Governance, Data Modelling, Data Quality, and Metadata Management. Comprising 100 questions aligned with the DMBOK chapters, this exam allocates 11 questions to each area, highlighting their importance. Understanding this distribution enables candidates to prioritise their study efforts while ensuring they cover all topics comprehensively.

Furthermore, the exam’s three-tier difficulty structure provides a robust assessment framework that accommodates different proficiency levels. Fifty per cent of the questions are straightforward, targeting Associate-level knowledge, while 25% require analytical thinking to choose the “most correct” answer from several options. The remaining questions are designed for Master-level candidates, demanding an application of knowledge and industry insights.

Additionally, candidates can benefit from flexible preparation timelines, as exam registration does not expire, although prolonged delays may increase anxiety and hinder success rates. Currently, South African companies cannot claim the CDMP certification for the Skills Development Levy because it lacks SAQA/NQF registration, an issue that DAMA International is actively addressing with U.S. educational regulators to achieve formal accreditation.

Figure 13 CDMP Certification

Figure 14 The Specialist

Community Q&A and Future Topics

Howard Diesel emphasised the importance of community-driven discussions in shaping future educational content for data management professionals. Participants highlighted critical areas where current education falls short, particularly in the area of practical knowledge sharing. Andrew proposed utilising DAMA SA’s network of experienced professionals to share case studies—both successful implementations and instructive failures—while Howard stressed the significance of anonymised data to ensure organisational confidentiality and enhance learning opportunities.

Several key topics emerged from the discussion, underscoring the community’s desire for practical, implementation-focused content. Data Remediation, identified as a vital yet under-taught area, was a primary focus, with Howard highlighting the pressing need for guidance on fixing bad data. Other important topics included Data Integration and Interoperability, which address the complexities of connecting various systems, and Data Culture, emphasising the importance of maintaining executive engagement throughout data initiatives.

Figure 15 Business Decisions Sophistication Journey

Figure 16 Business Decisions Sophistication Journey pt.2