When the talk is about data governance necessities, we often jump to the topic of what a data governance framework should encompass.
However, before embarking on this indeed essential agenda or when reviewing the current state of a data governance framework it is useful to take one step back and consider some core fundamentals to have as a prerequisite to implement and mature a data governance framework.
These prerequisites were recently coined in the Gartner report 7 Must-Have Foundations for Modern Data and Analytics Governance.
A reminder of the importance of having these fundamentals in mind is that only one fifth of organizations who in 2022 are investing in information governance according to Gartner will succeed in scaling governance for digital business.
The 7 Foundations
The first and central foundation in the Gartner approach is Value and Outcomes. Having this in the bullseye is probably not new and surprising to anyone. So, assuming the why is in place it is a question of what and how. According to Gartner the answer is to become less data-oriented and more business-oriented. In the end you will have to make a business-oriented data governance framework.
The next foundation is Accountability and Decision Rights. This theme is a common component of data governance frameworks often disguised as data ownership. Here, think of decision ownership as a starting point.
Then we have Trust. We are going to have less internal data compared to external data. The known data governance frameworks emphasize on internal data. You must mature your data governance framework to provide trust in external data too. And the connection between these two worlds also.
Next one is Transparency and Ethics. Again, this is a well-known topic that is much mentioned probably under the compliance theme, however seldom really infused in the details. Consider this not as a separate course in a data governance framework but as an ingredient in all the courses.
Adjacent to that we have Risk and Security. Business opportunity, risk and security are often handled separately in the organization. A data governance framework is a good place not to handle this in parallel, but to tie these disciplines together.
Don’t forget Education and Training. Make sure that this is defined in the data governance framework but then can be lifted out into the general training and education provided within the organization.
Finally, there is Collaboration and Culture. Data governance goes hand in hand with change management. You must find the best way in your organization to blend policies and standards with storytelling and culture hacks.
Learn More
Would you prefer that your organization will be among the one out of five who will succeed in scaling governance for digital business? Then, as the next step, please find a free link via the parsionate site for the Gartner report on 7 Must-Have Foundations for Modern Data and Analytics Governance here.
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