Introduction

This post pays tribute to the late Joost van der Westhuizen and draws inspiration from the remarkable journey of the 1995 Springbok team, which united South Africans during the Rugby World Cup. Just like the team overcame the odds to claim victory, businesses can learn valuable lessons to create a winning data culture. Let’s explore four key factors that contributed to their success and how they can be applied to deliver a winning data culture in your organization.

A World Cup Recap

The World Cup symbolised more than a sporting event – it became a symbol of hope and inspiration for the Nation. I can still remember where I was when we watched the final, and the exuberance in the streets as we drove home afterwards. Joost’s death has brought back those memories strongly and he will always be remembered with fondness.

Yet, the 1995 World Cup was never meant to be won by South Africa.

We went into the tournament as rank outsiders.

We had only recently returned to international rugby, after years in isolation. We had lost heavily to both New Zealand and Australia in the years leading into the World Cup, and these two teams were the favourites.

In our first pool match, against defending champions Australia, Pieter Hendricks ran around David Campese to win the game for the ‘Boks. South Africa began to believe!

We won the “Battle of Boet Erasmus” – an ill-tempered affair against Canada that saw several players being sent off for fighting.

We survived a brutal quarter-final against Samoa that saw several key players, including Joost, come away with injuries that should have sent them home for the rest of the tournament. They played on.

We survived the floods in Durban to hold out France by a whisker in the semi-final. In the other semifinal, All Black superstar Jonah Lomu had steamrollered Mike Catt, and the rest of the England team to ensure the favourites their place in the final.

24 June 1995 dawned dry and sunny in Johannesburg. All over the country, South Africans met up with friends and family to watch the game.

This was not a game to watch alone at home. Somehow we knew that this day was going to be special.

The final itself was a tight affair. No tries were scored and it was eventually won in extra time with Joel Stranskie’s famous drop goal.

What a moment! What a moment…

We had won in spite of the odds.

As stated earlier, the Springboks were not the favourites to win the tournament. They were neither the most skilful team, nor were they the most experienced.

In my opinion, four factors stood out, and can be applied to deliver a winning data culture in your business.

1. Discipline: The Foundation of Success

The 1995 Rugby World Cup final was a test of discipline, with both teams relying on penalties and drop goals for points. Similarly, a winning data culture hinges on strong discipline. The 1995 Rugby World Cup final was a low-scoring affair. South Africans will believe to this day that Reuben Kruger – another great who is no longer with us – scored a try, but the referee did not see the grounding and we had no television ref in those days.

Similarly, winning data cultures are built on a foundation of discipline. We need to understand and communicate our data policies and standards to all stakeholders. Good governance must drive the data behaviour that we need to meet our business goals.

2. Fitness: Ensuring Your Data is “Match Fit”

Coach Kitch Christie ensured the Springboks were one of the fittest teams, especially crucial in Johannesburg’s high-altitude conditions. Similarly, your data must be “match fit” for its purpose. Collaborate between business and IT to define minimum data quality standards, ensuring that your data can be trusted to provide valuable insighhttps://blog.masterdata.co.za/2016/04/19/data-governance-must-disappear/ts.

3. Teamwork: Every Player, A Data Steward

In the World Cup final, every Springbok player tackled relentlessly to neutralize the formidable Jonah Lomu. Likewise, a winning data culture demands teamwork, with every knowledge worker taking responsibility as a data steward. In a modern, data-centric enterprise, everyone must work together towards a common purpose, recognizing that the team’s strength lies in the collective effort.

4. Leadership: Inspiring a Shared Data Culture

The 1995 World Cup will always be remembered for the Madiba factor. President Mandela’s inspirational leadership certainly contributed to the support that the ‘Boks received and must have inspired them tremendously. But the ‘Boks leadership was not limited to Mandela. Coach Kitch Christie, captain Francois Pienaar, manager Morné du Plessis – these men and others ensured a common purpose and a shared culture at various levels.

In business, as in life, executive support is not enough. A winning data culture requires commitment at various levels of management.

Coach Kitch Christie spoke of vision, ability, self-awareness and the desire to improve, along with discipline and man management as the keys to greatness. He was explaining his coaching philosophy, of course, but his words apply to the data team. These factors require strong leadership and engagement – both at an executive level but also in the trenches.

A winning data culture means that every leader in the business is looking for opportunities to improve data, every knowledge worker understands the impact of poor data quality and is striving for quality, that good behaviour is recognised and rewarded, and unwanted behaviour is identified and managed out.

Idealistic? Sure – but absolutely possible to achieve.

Conclusion

While the idea of a winning data culture might seem idealistic, the 1995 Springbok team’s triumph demonstrates that it is absolutely achievable. By incorporating discipline, fitness, teamwork, and leadership, businesses can lay the foundation for a culture that prioritizes data excellence. Embrace the spirit of the Springbok team, and let data quality lead you to victory in the competitive world of business.

What are your thoughts? Are there additional factors you would add to this list?