In today’s digital landscape, the need for effective data governance is becoming increasingly evident.

Trends in Data Governance

As an experienced professional assisting companies in implementing data governance, I have observed both positive and negative aspects of this growing trend.

On the positive side, it is encouraging to see that data governance is receiving the attention it deserves.

However, a recurring issue is that the majority of requests for assistance come solely from IT departments. While I recognize the potential of IT driving data governance, it is crucial to address the lack of strategic support within these teams.

If you find yourself confused by the concept of data governance, you are not alone.

Many organizations seek tactical support when requesting data governance implementation. This could involve documenting specific data requirements or struggling to build a business case for broader initiatives. While these tactical requirements can add value and contribute to an overall data governance approach, it is essential to understand that they do not constitute comprehensive data governance on their own.

What is Data Governance?

The confusion surrounding data governance persists, particularly regarding its definition, purpose, and approach.

So, what exactly is data governance?

Data governance involves the allocation of decision-making rights and responsibilities regarding processes related to information and data. It serves as the cornerstone of data management by promoting behavioural changes that guarantee the provision of reliable and valuable information.

Without effective data governance, individuals within an organization lack clarity on who to approach for reliable information regarding the data they rely on for day-to-day operations and decision-making. Consequently, incorrect information is often used, leading to increased risk and reduced operational efficiency.

The Value of Data Governance

Data governance, on the other hand, establishes a council responsible for setting policies for efficient data utilisation.

Governance may cover various data assets such as reference data, the business glossary, data quality rules, and data lineage and traceability.

Most importantly, a data governance framework creates an organizational structure that facilitates easy access to individuals accountable for the data you work with. This ensures the use of accurate data to achieve operational and decision-making goals, compliance with regulations, and alignment with the organization’s business needs. The benefits of implementing data governance are manifold:

• Clear delineation of roles and responsibilities for data management and governance, leading to reduced confusion.
• Accelerated execution of data-intensive initiatives and increased reuse of existing data assets, fostering efficiency, for example, through the introduction of the DataOps methodology
• Enhanced ease and reduced cost of complying with data-intensive legislation, ensuring regulatory compliance.
• And much more.

Struggling to implement data governance? Read our 10 tips for implementing data governance

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