Data Strategy for all not for one

Having a data strategy and having everyone on board and using the strategy are unfortunately two different things. Most organizations have semblences of it, maybe it's just not formally documented, or even known by parts of the organization. From our experience the ones successful with data, clearly have a plan for it. Not just the technical parts to it, like where and how all this data is collected, cleaned, managed, governed, stored and accessed but how it is used in the organization and how to make decisions based on it.

Having a strategy for data, with leadership supporting it, and a clear method and purpose how to work with your data, across all the various lines of business in a consistent way, is a challenging feat. Too often people like to go rogue and come up with their own solution. In our view this is fine, as long as it aligns with the plan. Fit for purpose solution are important and generally more successful than the one size fits all approach. However, this type of deviance must be accounted for. Even so far as having a model to handle such a case. In smaller org's this usually isn't a problem, which makes them more likely to succeed and be more nimble in what they can do, and how quickly they get answers to their questions in their data.

In larger org's each line of business may need their own strategy and own solutions. So how do you keep alignment and use consistent across the entire business ? This is where the concept of data mesh approach fits, having data a product and shared across business units, with each unit owning their data, but also shared consistently across the org.

There is clearly a maturity model in order to get to this idyllic data state. Most org's either deal with data on a ad hoc basis or too rigidly that does not reflect the needs of the business. At the end of the day, if all your data ends up living in spreadsheets, in my view, we the data practitioners and even vendors have failed. Sure, the business users may like it like that, are used to it like that, and know how to use it, but clearly there are better solutions out there. Or maybe, the industry has failed and Excel should reigned the king? Even if your business leaders accept that sobering fact, there are ways to use excel in managed, governed and secure ways.

You can't manage what you don't measure, same goes for a data strategy. You can't plan where you are going if you don't have a map how to get there. Formalize, document and most importantly share your strategy with everyone. Explain and train everyone how to use the data. How to access it, How to manipulate it, how ask questions in the data. Data should help people do their day to day jobs. Give them important insight into what they are managing, make them more productive and smarter.

Where to start? Data Canuck is happy to jump of a free 30 minute call to see if we can help in your data journey. We also offer a 2 day paid workshop, (attached is a sample of the workshop agenda) to get you on the right foot forward.

Data Strategy Workshop Data Sheet.pdf

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