What You Need to Consider Regarding Data Ownership

Benefits of Data Governance Initiatives

The currency of a data governance initiative is the data that will be involved in developing the appropriate operating framework for your organization. The point of implementing データガバナンス is to enable an enterprise to readily access and use the information that makes their business run in a coherent and collective manner.

Key Benefits of Data Governance:

• Enhanced Communication: Communication between diverse corporate groups is enhanced through data governance.
• Regulatory Compliance: The ability to demonstrate compliance with regulatory requirements is another important benefit of instituting a structured data governance team.

Data Governance Hierarchy:
There are a number of distinct levels in a data governance hierarchy which interact to implement a robust system.

Key Roles in a Data Governance Organization

There are a number of specific roles which need to be filled when establishing a data governance program. Filling these positions with the appropriate personnel can be instrumental in the success of your initiative. A high-level view of these roles identifies three main components of your data governance team.

The Steering Committee

The Steering Committee is composed of a company’s top-level executives, often Vice Presidents responsible for specific business data domains such as customers, vendors, or products. This committee:

• Determines the overarching strategy and defines the goals of the data governance program.
• Facilitates the work of data stewards and establishes timelines and deliverables.
• Sets guidelines for the success of the initiative.

Data Owners

Data Owners oversee the data within specific domains and may be part of the Steering Committee. Their responsibilities include:

• Governing data within their domain across the organization.
• Approving data glossaries, definitions, and initiating data quality activities.
• Reviewing issues identified by data stewards and providing recommendations on policies, regulatory requirements, and software solutions.

Data Stewards

Data Stewards are subject matter experts tasked with the daily management of data. Their key responsibilities are:

• Forming the governing body to resolve data-related issues and make decisions.
• Collaborating with data owners to keep them informed of actions impacting their domains.
• Ensuring consistent データ管理 across business lines and enhancing enterprise-wide understanding of data.

The Importance of Choosing the Correct Data Owners

Data owners need to be well-versed in the data domain for which they are responsible. Answering the question of who owns the data in an enterprise can be a complicated question. Theoretically, a company’s data is a shared resource with no individual owner. 

For that reason, some organizations shy away from using the term “Data owner” when developing their data governance program.

Accountability and the Role of Data Owners

The problem with this mindset is that without a designated individual or team assigned to the data owner’s role, there will be a gap in accountability in the data governance program. 

There has to be an entity which assumes responsibility for the data definitions that are used for governance as well as defining the policies that will guide the data’s usage throughout the organization.

Distinguishing Between Data Owners and Data Stewards

The role of data owner should not be confused with the data steward. Initially, you may be tempted to assign data ownership roles to your IT department since they work with the data in question. 

However, your technical people are better suited to filling the role of data steward and focusing on the day-to-day management of the company’s digital assets.

Qualities of an Effective Data Owner

Making the right choice in data owners will ease the transition to a functional data governance implementation. Individuals filling this role need to:

• Understand the information that makes up the data domain.
• Appreciate the business value of the data.
• Have a firm grasp of how the data needs to be used for compliance purposes.
• Effectively communicate requirements to the steering committee and data stewards.

Collaborative Tools to Streamline Data Governance

The complexities of developing a coherent and efficient data governance program can be more efficiently navigated by employing appropriate collaborative tools. 

IDERA’s ER/Studio Enterprise Team Edition can help streamline your efforts by providing a firm foundation on which to build the organization’s data definitions and glossaries.

ER/Studio Team Server for Enhanced Collaboration

ER/Studio Team Server provides secure web-based access for your business and technical teams. The tool offers a single source of business data definitions stored in an enterprise glossary available to those who need it throughout the organization.

• Aligning Business Policies with Data Elements
  Business policies can be aligned with their data elements, ensuring consistency and clarity across teams.
• Improving Communication with Alerts and Tips
  Alerts and tips can be set up to enable better communication between diverse corporate entities.

Conclusion

The application helps pave the way for a dynamic data governance program that meets all business and regulatory requirements.