7 Steps to Simplify Data Governance for Your Entire Organization

Last Updated on: April 25th, 2023, Published on: April 25th, 2023

Share this article

We have explained before that data governance is a set of procedures and guidelines that detail how data is to be properly managed, accessed, and used.

It is primarily community-led, centered on collaboration and data democratization, with privacy at its core.

That is why it must be simple so that everybody in an organization can understand it.

Let us begin with a roadmap of 7 steps to simplify data governance.

Table of contents #

From chaos to control: 7 Steps for simplified data governance
Simplifying data governance: What you need to be wary of?
Mastering data governance: The best resources for a straightforward approach
Simplifying data governance: In summary

From chaos to control: 7 Steps for simplified data governance #

1. Introduction to data governance #

Explain the concept of data governance and its importance.
Share your company’s data governance objectives and framework.
Highlight the benefits of effective data governance for the organization.

2. Data governance roles and responsibilities #

Introduce the key stakeholders involved in data governance (data stewards, data owners, data custodians, etc.).
Explain their roles and responsibilities.
Clarify how each employee contributes to the overall data governance effort.

3. Data policies and standards #

Provide an overview of your company’s data policies and standards.
Discuss topics such as data quality, data lineage, data cataloging, data access, and data privacy.
Explain the consequences of not adhering to these policies and standards.

4. Data governance tools and resources #

Introduce the tools and resources available for data governance.
Demonstrate how to use these tools to maintain data quality, track data lineage, and enforce policies.
Share any relevant documentation, training materials, or support resources.

5. Data-driven culture and collaboration #

Discuss the importance of a data-driven culture and its impact on decision-making.
Share success stories or case studies showcasing the benefits of data-driven decisions.
Encourage collaboration and communication among employees regarding data governance.

6. Ongoing training and support #

Offer regular training sessions or workshops on various aspects of data governance.
Provide opportunities for employees to ask questions and clarify their understanding.
Encourage peer-to-peer learning and knowledge sharing.

7. Monitoring and measuring progress #

Share the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to track data governance effectiveness.
Provide updates on the organization’s progress in meeting its data governance goals.
Recognize and reward employees who contribute to successful data governance outcomes.

By following this roadmap, you can effectively onboard employees at any level of understanding and help them become active contributors to your organization’s data governance efforts.

Simplifying data governance: What you need to be wary of? #

Among the steps we have mentioned above, fostering a data-driven culture (point 5) and establishing ongoing training and support (point 6) can be the hardest to achieve.

These points are particularly challenging because they involve changing mindsets, behaviors, and long-established practices within the organization.

To foster a data-driven culture (point 5), you will need:

1. Leadership commitment #

Convincing top management and getting their buy-in is critical. They must demonstrate their commitment to a data-driven culture through their actions and decisions.

2. Changing habits and behaviors #

Encouraging employees to adopt new ways of thinking and working with data can be difficult, especially if they’re used to relying on intuition or experience.

3. Overcoming resistance #

Employees may initially resist the shift to a data-driven culture due to fear of change, lack of understanding, or concerns about job security. Addressing these concerns and clearly communicating the benefits of data-driven decision-making is essential.

And, in order to establish ongoing training and support (point 6), you will need:

1. Resource allocation #

Arranging for regular training sessions and workshops will require investment in terms of time, money, and personnel. You’ll need to allocate resources and budget to maintain ongoing training and support initiatives.

2. Continuous learning #

Encouraging employees to embrace continuous learning and keep up with the latest data governance practices can be challenging. It’s crucial to make learning opportunities engaging and relevant to their roles.

3. Measuring training effectiveness #

Tracking the impact of training on employees’ understanding of data governance and their ability to apply the knowledge in their daily work can be difficult. Developing assessment methods and tracking improvements over time is essential to ensure the effectiveness of your training efforts.

Despite these challenges, fostering a data-driven culture and providing ongoing training and support are crucial components of a successful data governance strategy. Addressing these challenges will not only improve data governance but also create a more agile, innovative, and responsive organization.

Mastering data governance: The best resources for a straightforward approach #

Here is a list of books and online courses that can help you approach data governance in a straightforward manner.

Let’s start with a list of books:

1. “Data Governance: How to Design, Deploy and Sustain an Effective Data Governance Program” by John Ladley #

This book provides a comprehensive guide to designing and implementing an effective data governance program, with a focus on practical advice and real-world examples.

2. “Non-Invasive Data Governance: The Path of Least Resistance and Greatest Success” by Robert S. Seiner #

This book introduces the concept of non-invasive data governance, which emphasizes collaboration, communication, and an organization-wide approach to data management.

3. “Data Stewardship: An Actionable Guide to Effective Data Management and Data Governance” by David Plotkin #

This book focuses on the role of data stewards in data governance and provides practical guidance on how to be an effective data steward.

4. “The Data Governance Imperative” by Steve Sarsfield #

This book provides a high-level overview of data governance, its importance, and key principles for implementing a successful data governance program.

And, here are a few online courses to get you more familiar with it:

1. Coursera - “Data Management and Data Governance” by University of California, Davis #

This course covers the basics of data management and data governance, including data quality, data integration, and data stewardship.

2. Udemy - “Data Governance: A Practical Guide” #

This course provides an introduction to data governance concepts, best practices, and real-world examples. It covers topics such as data policies, data quality, and data lineage.

URL: Data Governance: A Practical Guide by Udemy

3. DATAVERSITY - “Data Governance Learning Plan” #

This learning plan offers a series of webinars and articles on various aspects of data governance, such as data quality, data lineage, data cataloging, and data privacy.

URL: Data Governance Learning Plan by DATAVERSITY

These resources provide a solid foundation in data governance concepts and best practices. They will help you approach data governance in a simple and effective manner, tailored to the needs of your organization.

Simplifying data governance: In summary #

To simplify data governance, we elaborated on a simple roadmap for onboarding employees with zero understanding of data governance, which included:

Introduction to data governance
Data governance roles and responsibilities
Data policies and standards
Data governance tools and resources
Data-driven culture and collaboration
Ongoing training and support
Monitoring and measuring progress

Out of these above steps, fostering a data-driven culture and providing ongoing training and support are the hardest aspects to achieve due to the need for changing mindsets and behaviors within the organization.

By following these steps and suggestions, you can simplify data governance in your organization and effectively manage and monetize your data while ensuring compliance and security.