The Linkages and Entity ID Assignment module is an integral part of the data management process within the DOCK Integration Framework, designed to manage the relationships between member records in the MDM database.

Functionality:

• Automated Linking: Records are automatically associated if they meet or exceed the auto-link threshold, streamlining the data consolidation process.
• Manual Linking and Unlinking: Data stewards can manually adjust linkages using the Inspector application or APIs for nuanced control.
• Entity ID Management: The system assigns Entity IDs to records, handling merges and unmerges to ensure accurate entity representation.

Linkage Types and Statuses:

• The system categorizes records by linkage type based on source, method, and merge stage, facilitating tracking through AutoLink, ManuLink, and other statuses.
• Linkage statuses help track the review process with labels like Unexamined, Examined-OK, and Examined-ERROR, indicating the validation level by data stewards.

Entities and Linking Styles:

• Entity types such as identity, household, and organization are defined, with each representing logical relationships between records.
• The system supports transitive linking, relying on a 'glue member' concept for establishing connections within an entity group.

Entity Linker and Relationship Linker Processes:

• Entity Linker (EntLinker): Processes member data to create entities based on attribute comparison, managing auto-linking, task creation, and entity assignment.
• Relationship Linker (RelLinker): Manages complex relationships and hierarchies between entities, allowing for dynamic association based on member attributes and predefined rules.

Benefits:

• Enhances the MDM system's accuracy and efficiency in managing member data and their interrelationships.
• Offers flexibility in managing data, from automated processing to manual intervention for data stewardship.
• Maintains a clear audit trail of entity relationships and their statuses for governance and compliance purposes.

Purpose:

• To ensure that member data is correctly linked, reflecting real-world relationships and interactions within the MDM system.
• To provide a robust and flexible environment for managing data entity life cycles, from creation to potential merging or deletion.

Operation:

• The system assigns initial Entity IDs upon member record creation, with subsequent updates and linkages dynamically managed as new data is processed.
• The merging process is handled in stages, allowing for changes to propagate from the MDM database to source systems and back, ensuring that all representations are synchronized.

This module is designed for organizations that require sophisticated data relationship management, offering detailed control over how member data is linked, merged, and managed across systems.