5 Mistakes To Avoid As Advised By Data Governance Consulting Firms

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The data governance approach of most enterprises is dictated by the end goals that they expect to achieve and data governance consulting firms are engaged by them to help finalize and implement an appropriate strategy. The initiative can be helpful in providing numerous benefits such as improving operational efficiency, better revenue generation and adherence to compliance regulations but for the programme to succeed, it is mandatory to keep clear of any mistakes. Let’s take a look at the errors that must be avoided for a productive data governance program.

1. Failure To Define Data Governance

Data governance consulting firms insist that it is essential that the organization understands the difference between data management and data governance before moving ahead with the initiative. While the former refers to all the processes and systems used for managing the information, the latter can be defined as the system for assigning user and decision-making roles and framing a policy for the usage of the data. Data management involves the execution of all the methodologies finalized for the storage, transformation, security, and processing of data and therefore depends on diverse skill sets. Data governance, on the other hand, is business-driven in nature and entrepreneurs must try to define it in terms of its applicability in their organization.

2. Inability To Customize The Programme

Data governance is a strategic initiative which requires the active participation of the business-focused departments as well as the information & technology unit. The key lies in customizing the programme taking into consideration the organizational structure, corporate culture and the decision-making system of the company. Each organization’s requirements are unique and so must be the data definitions, policies, and rules so that the governance programme is seamlessly integrated with the company’s functioning process.

3. Hasty Formation Of A Council

It is seen most of the time that such programmes are top-driven initiative meaning that someone in the top leadership group gets impressed by the idea and decides to implement it in the corporation by forming a council of stakeholders who will decide on the future course of action. Most of the time, the initiative fizzles out as the council members lose interest or no feasible idea is thrown up for solving the company’s data related issues. It is essential to hire data governance consulting firms who will help in every aspect including the identification of appropriate stakeholders.

4. Ignoring Existing Advisory Bodies

Another common error that most entrepreneurs commit is not involving the existing advisory bodies of the organization in the process of framing the data governance strategy. These councils which include members from different business functions who possess decision making authority can be really helpful sources for getting valuable inputs. Including these bodies in the data governance programme will in effect officially incorporate the programme into the corporate policy-making system of the organization.

5. Not Realizing That Data Governance Is A Continuous Process

Most companies start data governance initiatives as one- time projects without realizing that it is, in fact, a continuous process. Treating the programme as a time-bound initiative can never be helpful as with alterations in the business environment the information requirements will change, the volume of data will increase or decrease and new data assets may be created. All these factors necessitate that the programme has the capacity to assimilate these changes and adapt accordingly.

Conclusion

It will be pertinent for corporations to engage data governance consulting firms as such programmes have far-reaching and long-term effects on the organization and professional agencies will be helpful in devising and executing an effective strategy.

Shopia Wilson have several years of experience in IT industry. She has written several content on data management assessment,Data Governance Consulting and much more.