Mission:
DAMA-I serves global data citizens by providing a community space for knowledge sharing, recognizing professional achievement, and promoting ethical and effective data practices, resulting in responsible and effective data management worldwide.
Vision:
Enabling leading data and information management practices, resulting in positive global outcomes
Legacy
DAMA International®, originally known as the Data Administration Management Association, has played a pivotal role in advancing data management practices since its inception in 1980. Founded in Los Angeles, DAMA® quickly expanded with early chapters in cities like San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Minneapolis, New York, and Washington D.C. By 1988, DAMA® International elected its first board of directors, formalizing its commitment to the data management profession.
In 1989, DAMA® hosted its inaugural symposium in Gaithersburg, Maryland, marking the beginning of its annual conferences that have since become premier events for data management professionals worldwide. The organization's influence grew globally, with the first Australian DAMA® conference in Melbourne in 1996 and the first European conference in London in 2000. By 2001, DAMA®'s 13th annual symposium in Anaheim, California, attracted over 1,000 data management professionals from 24 countries, reflecting its international reach and reputation.
Central to DAMA®'s contributions is the Data Management Body of Knowledge (DAMA-DMBOK®), first published in 2009. This comprehensive guide offers best practices and a common vernacular for enterprise data management. The second edition, DAMA-DMBOK® 2, was released in 2017, with a revised edition in 2024, encompassing topics such as data architecture, security, quality, modeling, governance, big data, and data science.
DAMA® also established the Certified Data Management Professional® (CDMP®) certification, providing a recognized standard for data management professionals to validate their expertise.
Through its enduring commitment to education, certification, and community-building, DAMA® International has solidified its legacy as a cornerstone in the field of data management, continually adapting to the evolving landscape of data practices and technologies.