Data Governance For Dummies

Chapter 9

Designing a Data Governance Program

IN THIS CHAPTER

Identifying data governance stakeholders

Documenting stakeholder requirements

Modeling and graphing data

Creating policies and procedures

No two data governance programs are alike. They have similarities, but your program will reflect your organization’s unique needs. The size of the business matters, as does its complexity and the industry. But perhaps the most defining quality is the focus of the efforts. For some organizations, lowering risk is the main priority. Others want less risk but seek to have data a source of innovation.

A data governance program doesn’t really exist — and shouldn’t — if the goals are not clear and defined. There can be some notional aspect to initiating a program, say, to ensure that data privacy is enforced. But an argument like that doesn’t need a data governance program. It just needs some policies and leadership support.

By embarking on a program, you’re sending a message that the organization has some important data-related goals and the only way to achieve them is through an investment ...