As data grows in volume and strategic value, executing a robust and effective data governance program has never been more crucial. With the new year upon us, right now is the ideal time for Chief Data Officers and Data Governance Managers to set bold objectives driving transformational outcomes in the upcoming year. Specifically, these three foundational data governance goals are worth prioritizing:
  • Deliver tangible business value from data assets
  • Promote organizational data literacy and culture
  • Use and improve analytics for superior decision-making
By focusing on these critical initiatives, Chief Data Officers and their teams can maximize the utility of their company’s data, empower its users, and facilitate data-driven thinking across the enterprise. Let’s explore the tactical steps and best practices for these new year data governance resolutions. Follow along for practical guidance and inspiration to make this a breakthrough year for your data, data teams, and entire enterprise.

Goal 1: Drive tangible business value from data

Data governance commands a seat at the leadership table by generating tangible business value. The most crucial objective for the new year should be driving real business value from your data assets, and this can be done by aligning governance initiatives directly with business KPIs and strategies. To achieve this, it’s important to identify and prioritize the high-value data sets that inform operations, decisions, and innovation. The best practices for achieving this include:
  • Use a data catalog to fully inventory assets across all business silos. Assess individual attributes like usage, lineaging, and sensitivity to determine asset value – both immediate and future.
  • Apply tailored scoring systems to categorize data assets into mission-critical, business-sensitive, operational baseline, and legacy segments.
  • Perform periodic reviews as new assets and data values change over time.
The ultimate goal is to identify each data asset’s enterprise value and sensitivity. This balanced view permits access to data to encourage innovation while also maintaining compliance and security. Once you’ve categorized your top-tier data assets, collaborate with your stakeholders on their data governance needs and quality standards. What specifics do they require for accuracy, completeness, consistency, and timeliness? Use these insights to establish better data quality frameworks and systems. However, your focus should extend beyond general data management: Implement purposeful governance initiatives that advance decision-making, improve products and services, and optimize processes. Maintain an inventory of these prioritized data assets, document results, and report on their connection to business outcomes.

Goal 2: Promote data literacy and a data-driven culture

Data literacy is the ability to read, understand, discuss, and work with data; therefore, building employee data literacy and an insights-driven culture should be an urgent priority for the new year. Start with developing comprehensive training programs customized to the diverse needs of your teams. Positive outcomes are employees who can fluently discuss their data needs, sources, and uses. Create simplified documentation using visualizations and non-technical language. Better yet, get a data catalog featuring a business glossary. These serve as a centralized resource for understanding your data assets and environment. Featuring simplified documentation with visualizations and non-technical language, these tools make it easier for data users at any level of technical know-how to understand and discuss complex data concepts. Equally important is the sponsorship of a data-first culture and initiatives at the executive level. Company leaders must openly model data-driven decision-making and best practices. Moreover, publicly recognize employees who’ve successfully turned data insights into tangible business value. Leaders should celebrate success stories via in-person gatherings and through cascading communications.

Goal 3: Improve decision-making through data

Supercharge your organization’s decision-making engine in the new year by:
  • Expanding predictive analytics for more informed planning: Use machine learning models to create deeper insights. Support structured but bold experimentation that balances innovation with governance.
  • Focusing on real-time data access and reporting to support faster decision-making: Break down data silos by creating central data hubs. Promote and facilitate frequent collaboration between governance, IT, analytics, and business units.
  • Tracking the performance and impact of decisions based on your prioritized data assets: Monitor key metrics to quantify the business value delivered and establish feedback loops to address areas of underperformance.
First, double down on predictive models and machine learning to uncover deeper insights for strategic planning. Balance bold experimentation with oversight structures that maintain governance while encouraging innovation and exploration. Next, focus on accelerating decision-making through centralized, trusted data hubs that break down information silos. Promote tight collaboration across data, analytics, and business units to bridge insights with actions. Then, redesign data protocols to promote smoother access, tighter collaboration, and a shared understanding of how data and goals inform choices. The focus should be on democratizing data to guide decisions energetically but ethically.
  • Enable timely access to quality data via self-serve analytics balanced with cybersecurity controls to protect data integrity
  • Encourage teamwork between data specialists and business leads by utilizing project sprints that deliver and solicit user feedback frequently
  • Outline guidelines for decisions that balance predictive model recommendations and human judgment based on transparent factors
Last but not least, connect decisions to business value through monitored performance. Establish feedback loops that address underperformance and promote continuous improvement in the ROI of data-driven choices. Get your data transformation off to a fast start early and enjoy the rewards of quality data and improved insights all year long.

Conclusion

Seize the new year by leading audacious data governance initiatives that deliver real value, promote data literacy, and improve strategic decision-making. Tremendous transformation awaits! Approach these resolutions with an entrepreneurial spirit – experiment, track impact, and adjust efforts to drive progress. With robust governance connected to clear business objectives, data unlocks innovation and growth. As for the next steps, gather your data teams to blueprint a roadmap. Define key milestones for each goal and get leadership buy-in. Then, focus on quick wins in Q1 to build momentum. Discover personalized metadata management and data governance – Turn to DataGalaxy to create your company’s data lineage mapping, develop a standardized business glossary, and much more! Check our calendar and select a date that works for you. Request a demo today!