So what is this blog about anyway?

Welcome to the first post on Executing Data Governance! As the title image suggests, executing on a data governance strategy is a lot a hiking trip. You get familiar with the lay of the land by acquiring a map. Then you plan out your route, stops and the necessary supplies. Then, after all the planning you can do, it's time to venture out. Was the map accurate? Did we plan enough breaks or bring enough food? Was a bridge out at a critical juncture? The reward comes from having made the journey and getting to experience the unexpected joys and overcoming the challenges.


The focus of this blog is what it takes to successfully navigate the data governance wilderness once you have your strategy and framework. Occasionally I'll cover strategies and frameworks but the hardest part is the implementation of the strategy. This is evidenced by the nearly endless data governance and stewardship strategies and frameworks available on the Internet with little on how to actually make them work. No seriously. In about 30 minutes I found 10 different strategies. Well, 10 different PowerPoint decks with very similar content. Don't sweat the framework or strategy too much. Look at a couple and you'll see what I mean. Who doesn't have data quality issues? Doesn't want to treat information as a corporate asset? Or needs to bridge the gap between business and IT? Pull out the common parts and see if you need any of the one-off topics.

*For a head start on a strategy or other types of documents use this link to a sample of content from the Data Governance Institute (http://www.dgs.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=885168&module_id=37956). It is "members only" content that you would assume is only available there but it seems to be more an index of publicly available documents they've cataloged. I just Googled most of the titles and found them. The site does have other good information on implementing data governance programs so check it out.

*For an example of a data governance framework check out this one from the IBM Data Governance Council (DGC) (http://www-935.ibm.com/services/uk/cio/pdf/leverage_wp_data_gov_council_maturity_model.pdf). While I am not sure I agree that Value Creation is it's own category (shouldn't it be integrated into everything?) the framework gives you an idea of the types of categories you will want to address. Topics like metadata, data architecture and stewardship certainly belong. Disclosure: I was a member of the IBM DGC when this was developed...and the eight category version before this version. :-) I've matured my vision of a framework so it is now different, but like I said, the framework isn't as important as your ability to implement it over the long haul.

Basic strategy? Check! You just saved about a month and $35,000 in consultant fees. Now you can spend your extra time and money socializing and refining the strategy instead of building it. Improving your ability to customize this basic strategy based on your specific business challenges and opportunities is how we will spend our time. For example, the concepts may be standard but the words you use to describe them can make or break you so we'll also talk about how to customize the terms.

So you probably don't think I respect the strategy and framework at this point huh? It's true, my focus here is your successful implementation, but NEVER underestimate the importance of planning. A classic example is the race between teams led by Roald Amundsen and Robert Falcon Scott to be the first to reach the South Pole as told in the book The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell. Amundsen studied the methods of the Eskimos and other Arctic travelers, equipped his men with the best gear possible, and located and stocked supply depots all along the route. Scott, on the other hand, used 200lb. motorized sledges which stopped working and had to be hauled by the men, clothed them so poorly everyone had frostbite, placed poorly marked and understocked supply depots too far apart, and took on a fifth man at the last minute when they'd only planned for four!

So who won the race you ask? Scott was beaten by more than a month. You think that was a bad day? Imagine the trip back home!

Until next time! Scott