Metadata Management in the Digital Age: A Qualitative Approach to Practices and Challenges in Modern Organizations

Abstract

In the era of massive digital transformation, organizations across various sectors face
significant challenges in managing increasingly complex and growing volumes of data.
Metadata, as descriptive information about data, plays a central role in ensuring that
data can be found, understood, and reused appropriately. Metadata management not
only assists in managing digital archives but also serves as the foundation for effective
and efficient data governance. This study aims to explore metadata management
practices in five modern organizations from the government, private sector, and non
governmental organizations. Using a qualitative approach with in-depth interviews,
system observations, and documentation studies, this study identifies the extent of
metadata understanding, implementation, and challenges in real-world work
environments. The results indicate that most organizations still face gaps in
standardization, system interoperability, and human resource digital literacy. This study
also suggests the need for a national metadata strategy and ongoing training to
encourage optimal metadata utilization across all organizational levels.