Practitioner's Guide to Operationalizing Data Governance

CHAPTER 10Communication

RESULTS YOU CAN EXPECT WITHOUT COMMUNICATION

Two things happen when a Data Governance program kicks off. The first is a level of excitement from the people who have put forth the effort to get the program off the ground. The second is reluctance from stakeholders about participation and what the program is meant to accomplish. You need to build a communication strategy that keeps the momentum and excitement going while ensuring stakeholders understand what Data Governance is supposed to achieve and how the organization is progressing toward meeting objectives. You do this through communication. If you fail to communicate, the momentum will decrease and reluctance, all the way to non‐participation, will increase.

COMMUNICATION PLAN COMPONENTS

From the Data Governance program outset, as it is being established and then as implementation begins, end users (including individuals not actively involved in the program) need to be informed on the intent and goals of the Data Governance program and how they align to the overall objectives for the organization. This is key to generating awareness, maintaining transparency, and promoting the value of Data Governance processes.

Communication needs to be thought through with as much diligence as the creation of the organizational framework. Every organization has communication mechanisms in place, whether it is ...