VIDEO | Eminent Data Governance Leader: You Don't Want Governance to Be a Tick-box Exercise

(US and Canada) Eminent Data Governance Leader Denish Bhavsar speaks with Subhash Kari, Chief Innovation Officer at Infocepts, in a video interview about the approach to enabling data governance programs, making it a part of new projects, enabling data exploration, and addressing the challenges of adopting AI.

Bhavsar begins by stating that organizations need to first focus on processes, organizational readiness, and maturity before considering data governance tools. He adds that data governance practices should, in turn, improve user adoption and exploration while being in a controlled environment.

When asked how to make data governance a part of new projects, Bhavsar mentions the following:

1. Making sure that data governance, privacy, and information security work together well
2. Connecting with the PMO (project management office) and ensuring data governance at the beginning of a project delivery plan
3. Completing a data impact assessment on any data-related project
4. Being a partner across the various phases of delivery

Next, Bhavsar speaks about balancing compliance with the ability to innovate with data. He stresses that governance cannot be a tick-box exercise and says that his team acts as consultants embedded in the business who advise and enable the strategy.

Speaking on the approach to supporting exploration use cases, he urges data leaders to embed a culture of fail-fast and encourage an environment where people try new things. The data can help drive that culture, but data governance can enable the right access to the information, at the right time, for the right people, and with trustworthy data.

Concluding, Bhavsar speaks about the emerging challenges of embracing AI for business benefits. He says that data governance also needs to embrace AI and provide the right framework, controls, and practices that will enable an organization's AI strategy. He also mentions the need to eliminate any biases in data.

CDO Magazine appreciates Denish Bhavsar for sharing his insights and data success stories with our global community.

See more from Denish Bhavsar

Data Transformation Is a Marathon, Not a Sprint

Every Organization Has Data Risks