The longer you wait, the bigger the problem becomes
- You miss out on opportunities: Good data is the foundation for analytics, AI, and automation. If your data isn’t well managed, it’s hard to launch new projects or improve the way you work.
- You risk running into legal trouble: New data privacy laws keep coming, and existing ones are getting stricter. If your data is disorganized or poorly managed, it’s hard to stay compliant. This can lead to fines or damage to your reputation.
- Your data becomes unreliable: Without clear rules, data quickly becomes messy. You end up with duplicates, missing values, and inconsistent definitions. That makes it harder for people in your company to trust the data or use it effectively.
Three steps to better data governance
- Start with a clear reason
Don’t begin with tools or policies. Begin by asking what the business needs. Are you trying to make reporting faster? Improve customer experience? Reduce errors? And by clarifying what strategic objectives in the overall corporate strategy you aim to support through better data management. Knowing the goal will help you stay focused and ensure that your Data Governance efforts are aligned with the bigger picture. - Put the right structure in place
Assign data owners and set basic rules. Use simple tools to track what data you have and who is responsible for it. Don’t try to fix everything at once. Start with one area, like customer or sales data, and build from there. - Make it part of your standard workflow
Treat data governance as an ongoing process. Review progress regularly, share results, and improve over time. Track simple metrics like error rates or how often teams can find the data they need.
Why now is the right time
Fixing data problems early is much easier than waiting until they affect major decisions or systems. You’ll reduce risks, improve efficiency, and create a stronger foundation for anything you want to do with your data in the future.
In short
Data governance doesn’t have to be complicated. Start small, stay focused on business value, and grow as you learn. The sooner you begin, the better off your organization will be.
Authors:
This is an article by Iga Jarosz: Iga is an Analytics Engineer at Digital Power. She is dedicated to ensure data quality and embrace design thinking principles. She combines her background in cognitive psychology with more technical skills in areas of analytics, data modelling, and visualisation. Iga is passionate about topics such as cognitive ergonomics, human-centred design, and systems thinking.
This is an articly by Guus van Loon: Guus is a data strategy consultant at Digital Power. He helps organisations turn data into long-term business value by aligning data strategy, change management, and decision-making with company goals. His background in cognitive neuroscience gives him a profound understanding of human behavior, enabling him to bridge the gap between tech specialists and business stakeholders.
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