The Essential Role of Data Owner

The term “data owner” is a cornerstone of data governance. What does it mean and what are the key skills required?

Without proper governance, that data kingdom can quickly descend into chaos. That’s where the data owner steps in – the decision maker who ensures the accuracy, security, and effective use of specific data assets within your organization.

The Data Owner: A Steering Committee Powerhouse

The data governance steering committee is the brain trust for all things data-related, and data owners play a vital role:

Domain Expertise on Demand: You’ll represent your specific data domain, providing subject matter expertise and valuable insights to the committee. Think of yourself as the data ambassador, ensuring diverse perspectives are considered during decision-making.
Decision-Making Power: Data owners are often voting members of the steering committee, directly influencing data governance strategies and standards. Your vote ensures data governance decisions align with the needs of your specific data domain.
Alignment Champion: Working with the committee, you’ll ensure data governance principles are followed consistently across different departments. Think of yourself as the data harmonizer, ensuring everyone’s on the same page.
Policy and Process Approver: Changes to data handling practices within the organization need a green light, and you’ll be part of the team providing it. Your approval ensures new policies and processes align with data governance best practices.

Wearing Many Hats: The Responsibilities of a Data Owner

As a data owner, you’ll be a multi-tasker extraordinaire. Here are some of the key areas you may be have to conquer:

Data Governance Lead: Working with data stewards, you’ll solve data-related issues and misunderstandings. You’ll also be a key voice on the data governance steering committee, providing expert advice on policies, legal requirements, and the Master Data Management (MDM) approach.
Guiding the Data Journey: Data has a lifecycle, from creation to disposal, and data owners oversee every stage. You will establish policies for data capture and retention, ensuring necessary data is captured ethically, that valuable data isn’t prematurely deleted, while also dictating when to archive or dispose of outdated information.
Data Quality Czar: You’ll be the guardian of data integrity, ensuring the accuracy and consistency of information throughout the organization. From approving data definitions to overseeing quality control activities, you’ll make sure your data is reliable.
Data Security and Privacy Champion: You may be expected to define polices to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access or misuse and to ensure compliance with data privacy regulations like PoPIA, safeguarding user information. You will work with the cybersecurity and legal teams to provide a data management input and subject matter expertise related to your domain.
Data Classification and Access Control Officer: Related to the previous point – You’ll classify data assets based on sensitivity, then establish clear access controls to govern who can view, modify, or delete that data. You will ensure that users that need access to data are accommodated, while ensuring the sensitive data is not exposed unnecessarily.

The Skills You Need to Be a Data Owner

Being a data owner requires a diverse skillset:

Business Acumen: Understanding how data supports your organization’s goals and challenges is key to effective data governance.
Leadership and Management Skills: Providing guidance to data stewards and overseeing data-related activities requires strong leadership.
Communication and Collaboration: Clearly explaining data insights to stakeholders and collaborating with various teams is essential.
Governance and Compliance Expertise: Knowing data regulations and being able to implement security measures and data retention policies are crucial.
Technical Knowledge: Familiarity with data management concepts like metadata and data modeling concepts gives you a strong foundation and may be a requirement in some organisations.
Continuous Learning: Staying updated on the latest data trends and best practices ensures you’re always operating at peak performance.

Data Owner: A Controversial Title for a Crucial Role

The term “data owner” is a cornerstone of data governance, but it’s not without controversy. Some argue it creates a sense of data possessiveness, hindering collaboration and information flow. So, let’s explore some alternative titles that might better reflect the role’s responsibilities.

Beyond Ownership: Titles That Emphasize Stewardship

Information Owner: This title clearly conveys accountability for specific data assets, highlighting the importance of information as a valuable resource.
Data Trustee: Similar to a financial trustee, this title emphasizes a sense of responsibility and careful stewardship over the data.

Data as an Asset: Titles Highlighting Strategic Value

Data Asset Owner: This title positions data as a strategic organizational asset, worthy of careful management and ownership.
Business Data Owner: This option emphasizes the close connection between data governance and core business functions.
Data Domain Owner: This option focuses on the governance responsibilities within a specific data domain, like customer data or financial data.

Collaboration Over Possessiveness

Data Sponsor: This title suggests an advocacy role, promoting the use and value of specific data assets across the organization.

Data Custodian: While not a perfect synonym, “custodian” implies a caretaker role, responsible for the safekeeping and proper use of data assets.

Choosing the Right Title

The best title will depend on your specific organizational structure and how data governance is implemented. Here are some factors to consider:

Focus: Is the ownership focused on specific information assets, data domains, or business functions?
Responsibilities: Does the role emphasize data quality, access control, security, or a combination of these?
Collaboration: How important is collaboration with other stakeholders like data stewards and users?

Ultimately, the title should clearly communicate the role’s responsibilities and encourage a collaborative approach to data governance.

So, what do you think? Is it time to dethrone “data owner” and embrace a more nuanced title for this essential role?

We’ll explore what it means to own data in more detail next time.