Data Governance: Building good bones


The next step in our data governance journey will be setting up the data governance framework. In some ways this is just like the frame that your home is built around. In a home the frame lays out the exterior and interior walls, provides a place for electrical and network wiring, a place for insulation, and more importantly exterior and interior wall coverings like brick and sheetrock.

The data governance framework works in the same way. By using principles and guidelines it provides structure around your data so that you can implement things like data cleansing rules, roles around data, and the tools that you allow the business to use. The end goal is to make sure that your data is being used in a consistent and compliant way so that everyone using it gets the same answers. You can see why this is a task that is easier said than done.

Your data governance framework should include the following components:

  • Data governance roles and responsibilities: This section should define the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders involved in data governance, such as the data governance board, data stewards, and data users. Consider carefully who will play a part in these roles as well. Make sure that you include business stakeholders because you will need their influence to gain cooperation from the rest of the business.
  • Data governance policies and procedures: This section should outline the specific policies and procedures that will be used to manage data, such as data access, data security, and data retention policies. These procedures will change as the business changes or as governments impose new regulations. Make sure that this a key talking point when your governance board meets.
  • Data governance tools and technologies: This section should identify the tools and technologies that will be used to support data governance, such as data catalogs, data quality tools, and data security tools. Remember that just because this will be a group of technologist working here to not forget the business objectives. A tool is useless if it does not achieve the stated goal.
  • Data governance processes: This section should outline the processes that will be used to manage data, such as the data lifecycle management process and the data risk management process.

The one common thread to your entire strategy is communication. The framework is no different. Your data governance framework needs to be reviewed regularly. If you find that exceptions are being made it could be time to modify the framework. Maybe a new data source has become available that requires stricter management or a new business unit was acquired that needs to be isolated from the rest of the business. No mater what the reason when the business changes the framework needs to accommodate and the only way that will happen is if there are open lines of communication.

This is a monumental task that will include a large team of business and IT people. Most organizations even have to bring in third party consultants to get it off the ground. Why would anyone want to put themselves through that?

  • Improved data quality and consistency: A data governance framework helps to ensure that data is collected, stored, and used in a consistent manner. This can lead to improvements in data quality, which can in turn lead to better decision-making.
  • Increased data security: A data governance framework can help to protect data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. This can help to reduce the risk of data breaches and other security incidents.
  • Enhanced compliance: A data governance framework can help organizations to comply with a variety of data protection and privacy laws and regulations.
  • Improved communication and collaboration: A data governance framework can help to improve communication and collaboration between different departments and teams within an organization. This can lead to better decision-making and improved efficiency.
  • Increased trust in data: A data governance framework can help to increase trust in data by ensuring that it is accurate, reliable, and secure. This can lead to better decision-making and improved performance.

At the end of the day it is all about the data. If you want your organization to be a data driven company then they need reliable, repeatable, and clean data. The only way you can make that happen is by taking action on your data strategy and building out a data governance framework. Just like the framework of your home, this framework will protect you and give you the tools to make the right business decisions to keep you and your organization warm and cozy in those long winter nights.

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