Building a Data Governance Team: 10 Steps To Success

Updated September 22nd, 2023
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A robust data governance team consists of data admins, stewards, custodians, and users. To build a successful data governance team, start by defining its purpose and goals, identify key roles, assemble a diverse team, establish a governance framework, define policies, communicate and train, and adapt to evolving needs. This fosters effective data management, quality, and decision-making.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the steps involved in creating a data governance team, their roles and responsibilities and finally their structure.

Let’s go!

Table of contents #

  1. Building a data governance team: 10 Steps to success
  2. Understanding roles and responsibilities of a data governance team
  3. Structure of a data governance team: Who should be part of it
  4. Summary: What you should keep in mind while building your data governance team
  5. Building a data governance team: Related reads

Building a data governance team: 10 Steps to success #

A good data governance team ensures that data is managed effectively, efficiently, and securely throughout its lifecycle. That’s the reason why building a data governance team is a crucial step in establishing a successful data governance program.

Now, let’s look into the steps involved in creating a data governance team:

1. Define the objectives #


Begin by clearly defining the objectives of your data governance program. These objectives should align with your organization’s strategic goals and should address areas like data quality, compliance, security, and usability.

2. Obtain executive sponsorship #


Having executive sponsorship will ensure that your data governance program has the necessary support, resources, and authority to be successful. Identify a high-level executive, such as a CIO or CDO, who can champion your data governance initiatives.

3. Identify key stakeholders #


Determine who the key stakeholders are within your organization. This should include representatives from various departments, such as IT, business units, legal, compliance, and risk management. These stakeholders will be responsible for making decisions related to data governance and should be involved in the creation of the data governance team.

4. Establish a data governance council #


Form a data governance council or committee composed of the identified stakeholders. This council will be responsible for setting the overall direction, strategy, and priorities for your data governance program. They will also oversee the activities of the data governance team.

5. Define roles and responsibilities #


Clearly outline the roles and responsibilities of the data governance team members. Typical roles include data owners, data stewards, data architects, and data analysts. Responsibilities may encompass data quality management, data privacy and security, data cataloging, metadata management, and data lineage documentation.

6. Recruit team members #


Once the roles and responsibilities are defined, recruit team members with the necessary skills and expertise. This may involve hiring new talent or reassigning existing employees. Ensure that team members have a clear understanding of their roles and are dedicated to the success of your data governance program.

7. Provide training and support #


Offer training to your data governance team members to ensure they have the required knowledge and skills. This may include attending workshops, and conferences, or obtaining certifications related to data governance. Additionally, provide ongoing support and resources to help your team succeed.

8. Develop a data governance framework #


Work with your data governance team to create a framework that outlines the processes, policies, standards, and guidelines related to data governance. This data governance framework will serve as the foundation for your organization’s data governance program.

9. Implement and monitor #


Begin implementing the data governance framework across your organization. Monitor the progress of your data governance initiatives and adjust your approach as needed. Regularly communicate the successes and challenges of your data governance program to stakeholders and team members.

10. Continuously improve #


Data governance is an ongoing process. Continuously evaluate and improve your data governance program to ensure it remains effective and aligned with your organization’s evolving needs and goals.

Building a data governance team requires careful planning and execution, but the benefits are significant. With a dedicated team in place, organizations can effectively manage their data assets, ensure compliance, and drive business value.

Now, let us understand the roles and responsibilities of the data governance team.

Understanding roles and responsibilities of a data governance team #

A successful data governance program relies on the collaboration and expertise of a diverse group of professionals, each with their own roles and responsibilities. From high-level decision-makers to data analysts, each member of a data governance team plays a crucial role in ensuring data quality, privacy, and security.

In this section, we will explore the key roles and responsibilities of a data governance team, providing insights into how each member contributes to the overall success of the program.

1. Data governance council or committee #


This group of high-level stakeholders sets the direction, strategy, and priorities for the data governance program. They approve policies and standards, provide guidance, and allocate resources to the data governance team.

Responsibilities:

  • Define data governance goals and objectives
  • Approve and review data governance policies and standards
  • Allocate resources and budget for data governance initiatives
  • Monitor the progress of the data governance program

2. Data owners #


Data owners are typically senior-level business leaders responsible for specific data domains within the organization. They have decision-making authority over their respective data sets and ensure data quality, privacy, and security.

Responsibilities:

  • Define data quality requirements and standards
  • Determine data access and security policies
  • Assign data stewards to manage specific data sets
  • Collaborate with data stewards to resolve data quality issues

3. Data stewards #


Data stewards are the “go-to” people for data-related questions within a specific data domain. They work closely with data owners to maintain data quality, ensure compliance with policies, and manage access control.

Responsibilities:

  • Monitor and maintain data quality within their domain
  • Implement data governance policies and standards
  • Define and maintain metadata, data lineage, and data catalogs
  • Collaborate with other data stewards and data owners to ensure data consistency and accuracy across the organization

4. Data architects #


Data architects are responsible for designing and maintaining the organization’s data infrastructure, ensuring that data is stored, processed, and accessed efficiently and securely.

Responsibilities:

  • Design and maintain data models, schemas, and storage systems
  • Define and implement data integration and transformation processes
  • Ensure data infrastructure aligns with data governance policies and standards
  • Collaborate with other data governance team members to optimize data infrastructure for data quality and compliance

5. Data analysts #


Data analysts are responsible for extracting, transforming, and analyzing data to support decision-making within the organization. They work closely with data stewards to ensure data quality and access the necessary data to perform their analysis.

Responsibilities:

  • Extract, transform, and analyze data to support business objectives
  • Collaborate with data stewards to ensure data quality and access
  • Identify data quality issues and report them to data stewards or data owners
  • Provide feedback on data governance policies and standards to optimize data usability and accessibility

6. Data privacy and security officer #


This role is responsible for ensuring that data governance initiatives adhere to legal, regulatory, and ethical requirements related to data privacy and security.

Responsibilities:

  • Define and implement data privacy and security policies
  • Monitor compliance with data privacy and security regulations
  • Train data governance team members on privacy and security best practices
  • Collaborate with legal and compliance teams to stay informed about relevant regulations

These roles and responsibilities may vary depending on your organization’s specific needs and structure. It’s crucial to adapt them to your organization’s context and ensure that each team member is aware of their role and responsibilities in the data governance program.

Structure of a data governance team: Who should be part of it? #

To achieve a data-driven culture, organizations need to establish a strong data governance program that can manage data quality, security, and compliance.

However, building a successful data governance program requires a team of experts with different roles and responsibilities. In this section, we will explore the structure of a data governance team, mapping out the relationships between different members and their roles.

Anatomy of a data governance team

Structure of a data governance team. Image by Atlan.

In this data governance team structure:

  1. The Data Governance Council or Committee oversees the entire data governance program and provides guidance to the data governance team members.
  2. Data Owners have decision-making authority over specific data domains and work closely with Data Stewards.
  3. Data Stewards report to Data Owners and are responsible for data quality and policy implementation within their domain.
  4. Data Architects work closely with Data Owners, Data Stewards, and Data Analysts to design and maintain data infrastructure.
  5. Data Analysts work with Data Stewards to ensure data quality and access and perform data analysis to support decision-making.
  6. The Data Privacy and Security Officer ensures compliance with data privacy and security regulations and works closely with other team members to implement best practices.

By understanding this structure, you can create a cohesive team that can work together to achieve your data governance goals. You can use this structure as a starting point and adapt it to your organization’s specific needs and requirements.

Summary: What you should keep in mind while building your data governance team #

Here are the main points to keep in mind while building a data governance team in your organization:

  1. Align with goals: Ensure the program aligns with your organizational objectives.
  2. Obtain sponsorship: Secure a high-level executive sponsor for support and resources.
  3. Define roles: Clearly outline roles and responsibilities for team members.
  4. Involve stakeholders: Engage representatives from various departments.
  5. Prioritize communication: Foster open communication and collaboration.
  6. Focus on data quality: Establish clear standards, metrics, and continuous monitoring.
  7. Develop a framework: Create a comprehensive data governance framework.
  8. Provide training: Offer training and support for team members.
  9. Monitor progress: Assess progress and measure success using KPIs.
  10. Be adaptable: Adjust the program to remain effective and relevant over time.

If you are evaluating and looking to deploy best-in-class data access governance for your data ecosystem without compromising on data democratization, do give Atlan a spin.

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