Data Governance

Introduction
Definition

A process to ensure usable, trusted and

secure data.
 Industry Definitions

• An emerging discipline with an evolving definition. The

discipline embodies a convergence of data quality, data
management, business process management, and risk
management surrounding the handling of data in an
organization. Wikipedia

• The practice of organizing and implementing policies,

procedures and standards for the effective use of an
organization's structured/unstructured information assets.
Information Management
 Process flow
Regulation
Organization Changes Strategy
Process Improvement

Terminology
Monitor

Implement Ownership

Policies
 Process Details

• Planning (strategy)
• Principals & goals of the program
• Areas that require improvement (potential initiatives)
• Prioritization and roadmap
• Maintain terminology (data catalog)
• Provides the basis for assigning ownership
• Documents data lifecycle (requirements and stakeholders)
• Documents transformation rules (source  destination)
• Determine ownership (“decision-rights”)
• Ensure correct representation
• Define escalation and accountability (people to roles)
• Correct understanding of “who is using what data”
 Process Details (cont’)

• Maintain Policies
• Rules on data maintenance, valid values, etc.
• Authentication, Authorization and Audit requirements
• Implement Policies (procedures)
• Update existing systems
• Update business & technical processes
• Monitoring and Assessment
• Measure effectiveness (KPIs, surveys, 1 on 1)
• Find and Track data quality issues
• Access and Audit reviews
• Track system and process compliance
 Benefits
• Consistent terminology and information usage
• Increased transparency of policies and ownership
• Better trust in the quality of data and increased
value during decision making
• Increased understanding of data dependencies
• Reduced risk of inadvertent or malicious
access to sensitive information
• Improved prioritization and coordination of
policy changes
• Consistent communication and training
• Reduction of unused/low value data
 Challenges
• Data Governance is often categorized as a technology
issue, rather than a fundamental business activity
• Governance programs are often contradictory to business
funding models that are line of business or project focused
• Transparency and effective communication can be time
consuming and difficult to achieve
• Large organizations change slowly
• Enthusiasm fades in the face of operational pressures
• Compliance and security risks can be difficult to assess and
quantify
 Challenges (cont’)

• Data Quality issues are hidden and persistent

– Organizations tend to underestimate the severity of data
issues. Most organizations are trying to fix years of “get it
done behavior”. The current-state is often unknown, and
multiple systems of record make this even more complex.
– Data quality issues can go unnoticed for some time. Only
when data is integrated, summarized or used in another
context (“downstream”) do issues begin to surface.
• Governance adds overhead to existing processes
and budgets. Incentive programs often don’t
reward efficient “upstream” stewardship
 Next Steps
• Agree on definition
• Agree on process
• Assess Challenges / Success Factors *
• Understand/tailor approach *
• Kickoff

* Success factors and approach are covered separately