VIDEO | SteamPunk Civic Tech Service Designer: Governance Involves a Lot of Change

(US and Canada) Lauren Maffeo, Civic Tech Service Designer at SteamPunk, speaks with Robert Lutton, Vice President of Sandhill Consultants and Editorial Board Vice Chair at CDO Magazine, in a video interview about building a data governance strategy, the challenges of implementing a data governance program and measuring success.

For building a data governance strategy, Maffeo describes six steps as outlined in her book “Designing Data Governance from the Ground Up.” They are:

1. Find a data framework that works for the organization and encompasses the key areas of data governance.

2. Implement data stewardship — Determinewho the stewards are, if they need to be hired externally, and what they can achieve within the organization.

3. Build data governance councils — Find the most effective council sponsor, convince data stewards, and manage the council.

4. Write a data roadmap — Share with readers how to assess the current data use and create a process map showing how that data flows through the organization.

5. Practice governance-driven development — Prioritize key points past the roadmap stage.

6. Monitor data in production environments and plan to govern data throughout the life cycle.

Maffeo mentions that her e-book can be ordered for Apple Books, e-readers, and Kindles. Physical copies can be ordered via platforms such as Pragprog, Target, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and other major retailers.

According to Maffeo, data governance is fundamentally a cultural shift within an organization, and one of the biggest challenges is not recognizing or refusing to acknowledge that.

Furthermore, Maffeo notes data governance can drive value by making teams aware of impending legislation that can affect their roles. She adds that there are real benefits of having a data steward focused on compliance regulation and ensuring all of the organization’s data is governed to keep the business compliant with legislation

When asked how organizations should measure success, Maffeo says that measuring the success of data governance depends on understanding what organizations want to use the data for and why. They should approach it as a holistic endeavor that can take years and has small wins and successes on the road to full implementation.

In conclusion, Maffeo cautions leaders against relying on quick metrics such as clicks or views.

CDO Magazine appreciates Lauren Maffeo for sharing her insights and data success stories with our global community.

See more from Lauren Maffeo

Data Governance Is a Top-Down Effort