In this digital age, you need the right data to stay ahead of the curve
In essence, the answer to that question is pretty simple. If you want to achieve success, you need to define your vision, your mission, your goal. An organisation, just like an individual, should know what it stands for. What it wants to achieve. I think there are 4 important elements to consider when creating a data strategy, which I would like to highlight in this blog.
1. Know what your organisation stands for
A data strategy isn’t much more than a Business Strategy – except for the fact that it explicitly highlights how you will leverage data, information and IT to achieve your goals. This is done from a business perspective, what information do you need to be successful? Taking a second look at your business strategy and highlighting or adding the data and information components goes a long way in identifying data management priorities.
2. Formalise and empower data management functions
IT has become so intertwined with almost all business activities, it is important to know what roles have a Data Management function within your organisation. Enable those employees – make sure IT supports them. They need to be able to extract the data and information they need to do their work without it being a hassle. Ensure IT unburdens them, helps them, saves them time. It’s crazy to see how often employees have to alter their way of working because IT doesn’t do what it should do. They find work-arounds to make ends meet, but that is far from efficient. So determine what employees collect information, and formalise that responsibility.
3. Establish communication and feedback channels
The employees who collect information (a.k.a. data administrators) don’t often have direct communication channels with higher management. Yet, they play a crucial role in data management processes and the quality of collected information. I often see that data administrators have very concrete feedback that could help improve IT systems, but they aren’t given good feedback channels to communicate them. If a tree falls in a forrest and no one is there to see it – does it make a sound? I’ve had clients explain they don’t want discussions on intranet. But I think that exactly that is the key. Create spaces to create that common understanding and common goal. If intranet isn’t the right place, make sure you define what is.
4. Ensure objective evaluation of value and funding for success
Knowledge is power. It’s pretty incredible what valuable and specialistic information organisations collect, just by doing what they do. But without a Data Strategy, that value, and potential for data monitisation is often neglected. Ensure you’ve got an organisation-wide process to collect and funnel data management improvement initiatives. Formalise them through business cases, so they can be evaluated objectively. Collect and celebrate good ideas! And, make sure senior level management finances and supports change.
In order to achieve success, an organisation should know what it stands for. This doesn’t only include the goals you want to achieve, but also the data you need to achieve those goals. That is why organisations need a data strategy. Without the right information, it’s difficult to make the right decisions. By clearly defining what data you need, it becomes clear what responsibilities should be formalised. Empower employees with data management functions and reward them for carrying out those tasks, establish communication mechanisms for feedback and provide funding for data management initiatives. Taking these steps will mature your data management organisation in an organic way. So, what does your organisation stand for?
