Asset Discovery > Relationships > Relationship types in assets
  

Relationship types in assets

You can connect assets in Data Governance and Catalog to indicate a relationship between the assets. When you connect assets, you enrich the value of the assets so that they can be used for governance or catalog purposes.

Contextual relationships

You can create the following types of relationships that provide contexts to assets.
Relationships that indicate business dependency
If your governance activities require business assets to be related to each other, you can create relationships between the assets.
For example, if you want users in your organization who read the "Medical Reimbursement" policy document to understand the cost reimbursement process related to it, you can create a relationship that indicates that the "Medical Reimbursement" policy asset 'Is Related to' the "Costs Reimbursement" process asset.
Relationships that add semantic context to technical assets
Add user-friendly contexts to your technical assets so that you can identify the assets in Data Governance and Catalog.
For example, if you have three tables called CustName, cust_name and Customers, you can create a relationship between these tables and the "Customer Name" glossary asset.
Relationships that add governance context to technical assets
When you create a relationship between a data set and a technical asset, the data set becomes a metadata layer that enables you to perform governance activities on the technical asset.
For example, you can relate the "Customer Name" data set with the CustName, cust_name and customers tables. Now you can perform governance activities on the tables such as assigning stakeholders, requiring approvals for modifications, or viewing the lineage of the table data.
For more information about the types of contextual relationships that you can create among assets, see Types of direct relationships.

Directional relationships

You can create the following types of directional relationships.

Outbound and inbound relationships

The relationship that you create from the open asset to another asset is called an outbound relationship. A blue arrow pointing to the right direction represents an outbound direction.
Whereas, the relationship that you create from another asset to the open asset is called an inbound relationship. An orange arrow pointing to the left direction represents an inbound direction.

Direct and indirect relationships

When you connect assets to each other in Data Governance and Catalog, the relationships can be direct or indirect.
When an asset is connected directly to the primary asset, the relationship is called a direct relationship. Data Governance and Catalog represents direct relationships by plain lines.
When an asset is connected to the primary asset through another asset, the relationship is called an indirect relationship. Data Governance and Catalog represents indirect relationships by dotted lines.
The following image shows an example of a direct and an indirect relationship created with the 'Medical Reimbursement' policy asset. The 'Costs Reimbursement' process asset is in a direct relationship with the primary policy asset. The 'CostsReimb.pdf' technical asset is connected to the primary policy asset through the 'Costs Reimbursement' process asset and is in an indirect relationship with the primary policy asset.
An example of direct and indirect relationships. The Policy asset 'Medical Reimbursement' has a direct relationship with with a Process asset 'Cost Reimbursement'. The 'Cost Reimbursement' Process asset has a direct relationship with the technical asset 'Cost Reimbursement.pdf'. Therefore, the 'Medical Reimbursement' asset shares an indirect relationship with the 'Cost Reimbursement.pdf' asset.

Relationship example

The following image shows a sample asset and the different types of relationships with other assets:
The Relationship tab on a business term asset. The Relationship tab shows different directional relationships the asset shares with other assets.
In the image, the business term 'Delivery Cost' is the open asset. The Relationships tab shows the grid view of all the assets related to 'Delivery Cost'.
  1. 1The highlighted policy asset 'Gov Policy 01' is related to the open asset through an inbound relationship. The orange arrow that points left indicates that the relationship between the business term 'Delivery Cost' and the policy 'Gov Policy 01' originated in the policy asset 'Gov Policy 01'. The relationship type is Regulating indicates that the policy asset is regulating the business term.
  2. 2The highlighted system asset 'Customer Call Analysis Reports' is related to the open asset through an outbound relationship. The blue arrow that points to the right indicates that the relationship between the business term 'Delivery Cost' and the system asset 'Customer Call Analysis Reports' originated in the business term 'Delivery Cost'. The relationship type is a Strategic Source for indicates that the business term is the preferred or recommended source of data for the system asset.

Types of direct relationships

You can establish different types of direct relationships between two assets.
Note:
Apart from the predefined relationships that are listed in this help, the Data Governance and Catalog interface can also list other relationship types that are defined exclusively for your organization. For more information about such relationship types, contact your administrator. For more information about how your administrator can customize relationship types, see the Administration help in Metadata Command Center.
AI Model
The following table lists the predefined relationships between AI Model assets and other assets:
Source Asset Type
Target Asset Type
Relationship Type
Meaning of Relationship Type
AI Model
AI Model
is the Base for
An AI Model asset is the base for another AI Model asset.
AI Model
AI Model
is Quantized into
An AI Model asset is quantized into another AI Model asset.
AI Model
AI Model
is Derived from
An AI Model asset is derived from another AI Model asset.
AI Model
AI Model
is a Quantization of
An AI Model asset is the quantization of another AI Model asset.
AI Model
Business Term
is Related to
An AI Model asset is related to a Business Term asset.
AI Model
Data Process
is Used in
An AI Model asset's data is used in a Data Process asset.
AI Model
Technical Data Set
is Generating (Target)
An AI Model asset generates a Technical Data Set asset.
AI Model
Technical Data Set
is Using (Source)
An AI Model asset uses a Technical Data Set asset's data as source.
AI Model
Domain
is Related to
An AI Model asset is related to a Domain asset.
AI Model
Metric
is Related to
An AI Model asset is related to a Metric asset.
AI Model
Notebooks or Scripts
is Used in
An AI Model asset's data is used in a Notebooks or Scripts asset.
AI Model
Subdomain
is Related to
An AI Model asset is related to a Subdomain asset.
AI System
The following table lists the predefined relationships between AI System assets and target assets:
Source Asset Type
Target Asset Type
Relationship Type
Meaning of Relationship Type
AI System
AI Model
is Related to
An AI System asset is related to an AI Model asset.
AI System
AI System
is Related to
An AI System asset is related to another AI System asset.
AI System
Business Area
is Related to
An AI System asset is related to a Business Area asset.
AI System
Geography
is Related to
An AI System asset is related to a Geography asset.
AI System
Legal Entity
is Related to
An AI System asset is related to a Legal Entity asset.
Business Area
The following table lists the predefined relationships between Business Area assets and target assets:
Source Asset Type
Target Asset Type
Relationship Type
Meaning of Relationship Type
Business Area
Business Area
is the Parent of
A Business Area asset is the parent of another Business Area asset.
Business Area
Geography
is Related to
A Business Area asset is related to a Geography asset.
Business Area
Legal Entity
is Related to
A Business Area asset is related to a Legal Entity asset.
Business Term
The following table lists the predefined relationships between Business Term assets and target assets:
Source Asset Type
Target Asset Type
Relationship Type
Meaning of Relationship Type
Business Term
Business Area
is Related to
A Business Term asset is related to a Business Area asset.
Business Term
Business Term
is Classified by
A Business Term asset is classified by another Business Term asset.
Business Term
Business Term
is Described by
A Business Term asset is described by another Business Term asset.
Business Term
Business Term
is Identified by
A Business Term asset is identified by another Business Term asset.
Business Term
Business Term
is Related to
A Business Term asset is related to another Business Term asset.
Business Term
Business Term
is Variant of
A Business Term asset is similar to but still different from another Business Term asset.
Business Term
Business Term
is the Parent of
A Business Term asset is the parent of another Business Term asset.
Business Term
Metric
is Classified by
A Business Term asset is classified by a Metric asset.
Business Term
Metric
is Described by
A Business Term asset is described by a Metric asset.
Business Term
Metric
is Identified by
A Business Term asset is identified by a Metric asset.
Business Term
Metric
is Related to
A Business Term asset is related to a Metric asset.
Business Term
Metric
is Variant of
A Business Term asset is similar to but still different from a Metric asset.
Business Term
Metric
is the Parent of
A Business Term asset is the parent of a Metric asset.
Business Term
System
is a Strategic source for
A System asset is an approved source of data that a Business Term asset represents.
Data Quality Rule Occurrence
The following table lists the predefined relationships between Data Quality Rule Occurrence assets and target assets:
Source Asset Type
Target Asset Type
Relationship Type
Meaning of Relationship Type
Data Quality Rule Occurrence
Data Element
applies to
A data quality rule occurrence applies to a Data Element for generating data quality scores.
Data Quality Rule Template
The following table lists the predefined relationships between Data Quality Rule Template assets and target assets:
Source Asset Type
Target Asset Type
Relationship Type
Meaning of Relationship Type
Data Quality Rule Template
Business Term
applies to
A data quality rule template applies to a business term for generating data quality scores.
Data Quality Rule Template
Metric
applies to
A data quality rule template applies to a Metric for generating data quality scores.
Data Set
The following table lists the predefined relationships between Data Set assets and target assets:
Source Asset Type
Target Asset Type
Relationship Type
Meaning of Relationship Type
Data Set
Business Area
is Related to
A Data Set asset is related to a Business Area asset.
Data Set
Business Term
is Defined by
A Business Term asset subject area best describes the overall content of a Data Set asset.
Data Set
Data Set
is in Lineage with
A Data Set asset is in lineage with another Data Set asset.
Data Set
Data Set
is a Source for
A Data Set asset is a source for another Data Set asset.
Data Set
Domain
is Defined by
A Domain asset subject area best describes the overall content of a Data Set asset.
Data Set
Legal Entity
is Related to
A Data Set asset is related to a Legal Entity asset.
Data Set
Manual Data Element
is the Parent of
A Manual Data Element asset is the business representation of data that is not available in the catalog but which is essential to capture for governance purposes in your organization.
Data Set
Metric
is Defined by
A Metric asset subject area best describes the overall content of a Data Set asset.
Data Set
Subdomain
is Defined by
A Subdomain asset subject area best describes the overall content of a Data Set asset.
Data Set
Report
is Derived from
A Data Set asset is derived from a Report asset.
Domain
The following table lists the predefined relationships between Domain assets and target assets:
Source Asset Type
Target Asset Type
Relationship Type
Meaning of Relationship Type
Domain
Business Area
is Related to
A Domain asset is related to a Business Area asset.
Domain
Business Term
is Related to
A Domain asset is related to a Business Term asset.
Domain
Business Term
is the Parent of
A Domain asset is the parent of a Business Term asset.
Domain
Data Set
is Defined by
A Data Set asset subject area best describes the overall content of a Domain asset.
Domain
Data Set
is Related to
A Domain asset is related to a Data Set asset.
Domain
Domain
is Related to
A Domain asset is related to another Domain asset.
Domain
Metric
is the Parent of
A Domain asset is the parent of a Metric asset.
Domain
Subdomain
is Related to
A Domain asset is related to a Subdomain asset.
Domain
Subdomain
is the Parent of
A Domain asset is the parent of a Subdomain asset.
Geography
The following table lists the predefined relationships between Geography assets and target assets:
Source Asset Type
Target Asset Type
Relationship Type
Meaning of Relationship Type
Geography
Geography
is the Parent of
A Geography asset is the parent of another Geography asset.
Legal Entity
The following table lists the predefined relationships between Legal Entity assets and target assets:
Source Asset Type
Target Asset Type
Relationship Type
Meaning of Relationship Type
Legal Entity
Geography
is Related to
A Legal Entity asset is related to a Geography asset.
Legal Entity
Legal Entity
is the Parent of
A Legal Entity asset is the parent of another Legal Entity asset.
Manual Data Element
The following table lists the predefined relationships between Manual Data Element assets and target assets:
Source Asset Type
Target Asset Type
Relationship Type
Meaning of Relationship Type
Manual Data Element
Manual Data Element
is in Manual Lineage with
A Manual Data Element asset is in lineage with another Manual Data Element.
Manual Data Element
Technical Data Element
is in Manual Lineage with
A Manual Data Element asset is in lineage with a Technical Data Element.
Note:
The is in Manual Lineage with relationship type is created by Data Governance and Catalog when you create a manual lineage in the Lineage tab of an asset.
Metric
The following table lists the predefined relationships between Metric assets and target assets:
Source Asset Type
Target Asset Type
Relationship Type
Meaning of Relationship Type
Metric
Business Area
is Related to
A Metric asset is related to a Business Area asset.
Metric
Business Term
is Classified by
A Metric asset is classified by a Business Term asset.
Metric
Business Term
is Described by
A Metric asset is described by a Business Term asset.
Metric
Business Term
is Identified by
A Metric asset is identified by a Business Term asset.
Metric
Business Term
is Related to
A Metric asset is related to a Business Term asset.
Metric
Business Term
is Variant of
A Metric asset is similar to but still different from a Business Term asset.
Metric
Business Term
is the Parent of
A Metric asset is the parent of a Business Term asset.
Metric
Data Set
is Related to
A Metric asset is related to a Data Set asset.
Metric
Metric
Is Classified by
A Metric asset is classified by another a Metric asset.
Metric
Metric
is Described by
A Metric asset is described by another Metric asset.
Metric
Metric
is Identified by
A Metric asset is identified by another Metric asset.
Metric
Metric
is Related to
A Metric asset is related to another Metric asset.
Metric
Metric
is Variant of
A Metric asset is similar to but still different from another Metric asset.
Metric
Metric
is the Parent of
A Metric asset is the parent of another Metric asset.
Metric
Metric
Semantic Relationship
A Metric asset has semantic relationship with another Metric asset.
Metric
System
is a Strategic source for
A System asset is an approved source of the data that a Metric asset represents.
Policy
The following table lists the predefined relationships between Policy assets and target assets:
Source Asset Type
Target Asset Type
Relationship Type
Meaning of Relationship Type
Policy
AI Model
is Regulating
A Policy asset influences some aspects of an AI Model asset.
Policy
AI System
is Related to
A Policy asset is related to an AI System asset.
Policy
Business Area
is Related to
A Policy asset is related to a Business Area asset.
Policy
Business Term
is Regulating
A Policy asset exerts a regulatory influence over a Business Term asset.
Policy
Data element
is Regulating
A Policy asset exerts a regulatory influence over a data element.
Policy
Data Set
Policy defined by Business
A Policy asset defines some aspects of a Data Set asset.
Policy
Data Set
is Regulating
A Policy asset influences some aspects of a Data Set asset.
Policy
Domain
is Regulating
A Policy asset influences some aspects of a Glossary asset.
Policy
Geography
is Related to
A Policy asset is related to a Geography asset.
Policy
Legal Entity
is Related to
A Policy asset is related to a Legal Entity asset.
Policy
Manual Data Element
is Related to
A Policy asset is related to a Manual Data Element asset.
Policy
Metric
is Regulating
A Policy asset influences some aspects of a Glossary asset.
Policy
Policy
is the Parent of
A Policy asset is the parent of another Policy asset.
Policy
Process
is Related to
A Policy asset influences some aspects of a Process asset.
Policy
Process
is Compliant with
A Process asset adheres to a Policy asset in whole or in part.
Policy
Subdomain
is Regulating
A Policy asset influences some aspects of a Glossary asset.
Policy
System
is Regulating
A Policy asset influences some aspects of a System asset.
Policy
Policy
support Implementation of
A Policy asset supports some aspect of implementation to another Policy asset.
Policy
Report
is Regulating
A Policy asset influences some aspects of a Report asset.
Policy
Report Element
is Regulating
A Policy asset influences some aspects of a Report Element asset.
Policy
Classification
is Regulating
A Policy asset influences some aspects of a Classification asset.
Process
The following table lists the predefined relationships between Process assets and target assets:
Source Asset Type
Target Asset Type
Relationship Type
Meaning of Relationship Type
Process
AI Model
is Related to
A Process asset is related to an AI Model asset.
Process
AI System
is Related to
A Process asset is related to an AI System asset.
Process
BI Report
is Related to
A Process asset is related to a BI Report asset.
Process
Business Area
is Related to
A Process asset is related to a Business Area asset.
Process
Business Term
is using CDE
A Process asset uses a Critical Data Element of a Business Term asset.
Process
Business Term
is Related to
A Business Term asset is relevant to the execution of a Process asset.
Process
Data Element
is Related to
A Process is relevant to the execution of a Data Element asset.
Process
Data Element
is Using
A Process asset uses a Data Element asset's data.
Process
Data Set
is Related to
A Data Set asset is relevant to the execution of a Process asset.
Process
Data Set
is Using Data from
A Data Set asset is dependent on the Process asset data.
Process
Domain
is used for Process
A Process asset's data is used in a Domain asset.
Process
Geography
is Related to
A Process asset is related to a Geography asset.
Process
Legal Entity
is Related to
A Process asset is related to a Legal Entity asset.
Process
Manual Data Element
is Related to
A Process asset is related to a Manual Data Element asset.
Process
Metric
is Related to
A Metric asset is relevant to the execution of a Process asset.
Process
Metric
is Using CDE
A Process asset uses a Critical Data Element of a Metric asset.
Process
Policy
is Related to
A Process asset evidences execution of, or adherence to, a Policy asset.
Process
Process
is Predecessor To
A source Process asset precedes a target Process asset.
Process
Process
is Related to
Different processes or process steps are complimentary or otherwise related to other business activities.
Process
Process
is the Parent of
A Process asset is the parent of another Process asset.
Process
Report Element
is Related to
A Project asset is related to a Report Element asset.
Process
Subdomain
is using CDE
A Process asset uses a Critical Data Element of a Subdomain asset.
Process
Subdomain
is Related to
A Subdomain asset is relevant to the execution of a Process asset.
Process
System
is Related to
A Process asset is related to a System asset.
Process
System
is Using Data from
A Process asset is dependent on a System asset's data.
Process
System
Process Applicable System
A Process asset creates or consumes data relevant to a System asset.
Process
Technical Data Set
is Related to
A Process asset is related to a Technical Data Set asset.
Project
The following table lists the predefined relationships between Project assets and target assets:
Source Asset Type
Target Asset Type
Relationship Type
Meaning of Relationship Type
Project
AI Model
is Related to
A Project asset is related to an AI Model asset.
Project
AI System
is Related to
A Project asset is related to an AI System asset.
Project
BI Report
is Related to
A Project asset is related to a BI Report asset.
Project
Business Area
is Related to
A Project asset is related to a Business Area asset.
Project
Business Term
is Related to
A Project asset is related to a Business Term asset.
Project
Data Set
is Related to
A Project asset is related to a Data Set asset.
Project
Data Element
is Related to
A Data Element is related to a Project asset.
Project
Domain
is Related to
A Project asset is related to a Domain asset.
Project
Geography
is Related to
A Project asset is related to a Geography asset.
Project
Legal Entity
is Related to
A Project asset is related to a Legal Entity asset.
Project
Manual Data Element
is Related to
A Project asset is related to a Manual Data Element asset.
Project
Metric
is Related to
A Project asset is related to a Metric asset.
Project
Policy
is Related to
A Project asset is related to a Policy asset.
Project
Project
is the Parent of
A Project asset is the parent of another Project asset.
Project
Process
is Related to
A Project asset is related to a Process asset.
Project
Regulation
is Related to
A Project asset is related to a Regulation asset.
Project
Report Element
is Related to
A Project asset is related to a Report Element asset.
Project
Subdomain
is Related to
A Project asset is related to a Subdomain asset.
Project
System
is Related to
A Project asset is related to a System asset.
Project
Technical Data Set
is Related to
A Project asset is related to a Technical Data Set asset.
Regulation
The following table lists the predefined relationships between Regulation assets and target assets:
Source Asset Type
Target Asset Type
Relationship Type
Meaning of Relationship Type
Regulation
Business Area
is Related to
A Regulation asset is related to a Business Area asset.
Regulation
Geography
is Related to
A Regulation asset is related to a Geography asset.
Regulation
Legal Entity
is Related to
A Regulation asset is related to a Legal Entity asset.
Regulation
Policy
is Related to
A Regulation asset is related to a Policy asset.
Regulation
Regulation
is the Parent of
A Regulation asset is the parent of another Regulation asset.
Subdomain
The following table lists the predefined relationships between Subdomain assets and target assets:
Source Asset Type
Target Asset Type
Relationship Type
Meaning of Relationship Type
Subdomain
Business Area
is Related to
A Subdomain asset is related to a Business Area asset.
Subdomain
Business Term
is Classified by
A Subdomain asset is classified by a Business Term asset.
Subdomain
Business Term
is Described by
A Subdomain asset is described by a Business Term asset type.
Subdomain
Business Term
is Identified by
A Subdomain asset is identified by a Business Term asset.
Subdomain
Business Term
is Related to
A Subdomain asset is related to a Business Term asset.
Subdomain
Business Term
is Variant of
A Subdomain asset is similar to but still different from a Business Term asset.
Subdomain
Business Term
is the Parent of
A Subdomain asset is the parent of a Business Term asset.
Subdomain
Data Set
is Related to
A Subdomain asset is related to a Data Set asset.
Subdomain
Data Set
Subdomain defined by Data
A Subdomain asset might indicate the contents or primary purpose of a Data Set asset.
Subdomain
Metric
is Classified by
A Subdomain asset is classified by a Metric asset.
Subdomain
Metric
is Described by
A Subdomain asset is described by a Metric asset.
Subdomain
Metric
is Identified by
A Subdomain asset is identified by a Metric asset.
Subdomain
Metric
is Related to
A Subdomain asset is related to a metric asset.
Subdomain
Metric
is Variant of
A Subdomain asset is similar to but still different from a Metric asset.
Subdomain
Metric
is the Parent of
A Subdomain asset is the parent of a Metric asset.
Subdomain
Subdomain
is Related to
A Subdomain asset is related to another Subdomain asset.
Subdomain
Subdomain
is the Parent of
A Subdomain asset is the parent of another Subdomain asset.
System
The following table lists the predefined relationships between System assets and target assets:
Source Asset Type
Target Asset Type
Relationship Type
Meaning of Relationship Type
System
Business Area
is Related to
A System asset is related to a Business Area asset.
System
Data Set
is a Strategic Source for
A System asset is a strategic source for a Data Set asset.
System
DataSource
is Derived from
A System asset is derived from a DataSource asset.
System
Geography
is Related to
A System asset is related to a Geography asset.
System
Legal Entity
is Related to
A System asset is related to a Legal Entity asset.
System
System
is the Parent of
A System asset is the parent of another System asset.
System
System
is a Source for
A System asset is a source for another System asset.
Technical Data Element
The following table lists the predefined relationships between technical data elements and target assets:
Source Asset Type
Target Asset Type
Relationship Type
Meaning of Relationship Type
Technical Data Element
Manual Data Element
is in Manual Lineage with
A technical data element is in lineage with a Manual Data Element asset.
Technical Data Element
Technical Data Element
is in Manual Lineage with
A technical data element is in lineage with a technical data element.

Parent-child relationships

While creating an asset, you can specify the parent asset to create a parent and child relationship between the assets. You can view the parent-child relationships in the Hierarchy and Relationships tabs of the asset.
The following table lists the asset types that are applicable for the parent-child relationships for the given asset types:
Parent Asset Type
Applicable Child Asset Types
AI Model
-
AI System
Data Set
Business Area
Business Area
Business Term
Business Term
Metric
Subdomain
Data Quality Rule Occurrence
-
Data Quality Rule Template
-
Data Set
Manual Data Element
Domain
Business Term
Domain
Metric
Subdomain
Geography
Geography
Legal Entity
Legal Entity
Metric
Business Term
Metric
Subdomain
Policy
Policy
Process
Process
Project
Project
Regulation
Regulation
Subdomain
Business Term
Metric
Subdomain
System
System
Data Set
For more information about creating an asset, see the Creating assets and assigning stakeholders topic in the Asset Management help.