The Case for the Chief Data Officer

The Case for the Chief Data Officer

by Peter Aiken, Michael M. Gorman
Released April 2013
Publisher(s): Morgan Kaufmann
ISBN: 9780124114951

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Book description

Data are an organization's sole, non-depletable, non-degrading, durable asset. Engineered right, data's value increases over time because the added dimensions of time, geography, and precision. To achieve data's full organizational value, there must be dedicated individual to leverage data as assets - a Chief Data Officer or CDO who's three job pillars are:

  • Dedication solely to leveraging data assets,
  • Unconstrained by an IT project mindset, and
  • Reports directly to the business

Once these three pillars are set into place, organizations can leverage their data assets. Data possesses properties worthy of additional investment. Many existing CDOs are fatally crippled, however, because they lack one or more of these three pillars. Often organizations have some or all pillars already in place but are not operating in a coordinated manner.

The overall objective of this book is to present these pillars in an understandable way, why each is necessary (but insufficient), and what do to about it.

  • Uncovers that almost all organizations need sophisticated, comprehensive data management education and strategies.
  • Delivery of organization-wide data success requires a highly focused, full time Chief Data Officer.
  • Engineers organization-wide data advantage which enables success in the marketplace

Table of contents

  1. Cover image
  2. Title page
  3. Table of Contents
  4. Copyright
  5. Dedication
  6. Acknowledgements
  7. About the Authors
  8. Foreword
  9. Executive Summary
    1. How to Obtain a Data Advantage
  10. Chapter 1. Introduction – Speaking of Data (Big, Little, Dark …) in Anticipation of the Impending Tsunami
  11. Chapter 2. Understanding the Current C-level is not Data-Knowledgeable
    1. 2.1 Chapter Overview
    2. 2.2 Who is Your Data Chief?
    3. 2.3 Chief Officers
    4. 2.4 The Broad Technology Focus of Most CIOs
    5. 2.5 CIO Preparation – Agreeing on Uniform Qualifications
    6. 2.6 What are the CIO DATA Function Challenges as Currently Practiced?
    7. 2.7 Chapter Summary
  12. Chapter 3. Developing Your Organization’s Data Leveraging Capabilities
    1. 3.1 Chapter Overview
    2. 3.2 Engineering Leverage for your Data Advantage
    3. 3.3 Architecting Data Leverage
    4. 3.4 Data Strategy Development
    5. 3.5 An Alternative Approach to IT Development
    6. 3.6 Data Centric Principles
    7. 3.7 Assessing Data Leveraging
    8. 3.8 Application Software/COTS Packages
    9. 3.9 Chapter Summary
  13. Chapter 4. Focusing DM to Meet Common Organizational Challenges
    1. 4.1 Chapter Overview
    2. 4.2 Ubiquitous DM Challenges: Complexity, Degree, and Scope
    3. 4.3 Objective Assessments of Organizational DM
    4. 4.4 Why CIOs Fail to Recognize Needed DM Improvements
    5. 4.5 Why it Might be Difficult to Change the Status Quo?
    6. 4.6 Chapter Summary
  14. Chapter 5. Creating the Right Conditions for CDO Success
    1. 5.1 Chapter Overview
    2. 5.2 Where Should they Report?
    3. 5.3 What Should they do? Primary CDO Challenges
    4. 5.4 The Perhaps Temporary Nature of the CDO
    5. 5.5 Chapter Summary
  15. Chapter 6. Conclusions/Suggestions
  16. References

Product information

  • Title: The Case for the Chief Data Officer
  • Author(s): Peter Aiken, Michael M. Gorman
  • Release date: April 2013
  • Publisher(s): Morgan Kaufmann
  • ISBN: 9780124114951