Creating a Data-Driven Organization

Chapter 11. The Data-Driven C-Suite

The ideal CDO exists to drive business value.

Julie Steele¹

If the organization wants to be data driven there has to be an evangelist that makes noise about what it needs.

Anon. in Shaw et al. 2014.²

So far, we’ve covered a lot of ground. I adopted a bottom-up perspective, following the data, influence, and impact from the raw data up through the analytics value chain. I started with the foundation of a data-driven organization: the data layer (i.e., collecting the right data and collecting the data right). I also covered the analyst org: hiring the right people with the right skills, combined in the right way, who have the potential to do insightful, impactful analysis. And, I covered the types of statistical and visualization tools and fact-based storytelling approaches that ultimately can turn raw data into sales pitches to aid the decision makers. Importantly, I also highlighted what analysts, and their direct managers, can do to contribute to a data-driven culture and success. 

At this point, we turn things around and adopt a top-down perspective. While a data-driven organization and its culture can certainly blossom from below, to reach its full potential, it also needs shaping, sponsorship, and direction from above: data leadership. That is the focus of this chapter.

Someone has to hold the top data position in the company. For a long time, that has been the CTO or CIO. However, they have little time and breadth to regard the data ...