As a critical component of modern business strategies, data governance enables organizations to harness the power of data and drive digital transformation. DataGalaxy‘s recent CDO Masterclass, featuring industry experts and case studies, generated valuable insights into the role of change management in effective data governance.

I’m excited to share key takeaways from this event, focusing on how Chief Data Officers (CDOs) can successfully navigate the challenges associated with data governance and change management.

People at the heart of change management in data governance

A central theme of the Masterclass was acknowledging the importance of the human aspect of data governance. On Day 1, Danette McGilvray, President of Granite Falls Consulting and a renowned data governance expert, challenged the group by asking, "Are you addressing the human aspect in change management? And are you supporting them in their learning? How are you making people a priority in your organization?

One of the techniques discussed for supporting adult learners involved creating a safe environment for employees to ask questions, experiment, and learn from mistakes. This nurturing atmosphere promotes open communication, fostering a space where employees can express their concerns and share ideas without fear of negative consequences.

By fostering a supportive learning environment, organizations can facilitate the development of a robust data-driven culture, as employees feel empowered to contribute to the success of data governance initiatives.

Innovative techniques to foster a data-driven culture

Organizations can also implement diverse change management techniques catering to different learning styles and preferences. For example, using SharePoint sites, messaging on computer backgrounds, and hosting lunch and learn sessions were mentioned to engage employees and inform them about data governance practices and available resources. These techniques reinforce vital concepts and maintain employee interest in data governance initiatives.

Moreover, organizations must invest in training and development programs focusing on data governance skills and knowledge. By offering continuous learning opportunities, organizations can ensure that employees stay up-to-date with industry best practices and are well-equipped to tackle data governance challenges.

Acknowledging and addressing the human aspect of data governance is a critical component of the success of any data-driven initiative. By creating a supportive learning environment, investing in training and development, and implementing varied change management techniques, organizations can empower their employees to contribute to the success of data governance initiatives and foster a vibrant data-driven culture.

The driving forces behind data governance

Masterclass participants identified several key business drivers for data governance, highlighting the importance of incorporating data governance into an organization’s strategy. These drivers include:

• Enterprise data literacy and enablement: Data governance is crucial in developing a data-literate workforce capable of effectively utilizing data to make informed business decisions. By ensuring data quality, consistency, and accessibility, data governance empowers employees to harness the full potential of data and drive better outcomes.

• Digital transformation: As organizations embrace digital technologies, they must adapt to the rapidly changing data landscape. Robust data governance helps organizations manage this transition by providing the necessary frameworks and processes for data management, ensuring they leverage data effectively while minimizing risks and maintaining compliance.

• Critical data certification: Ensuring critical data’s accuracy, reliability, and integrity is essential for maintaining trust in business operations and making sound decisions. Data governance helps organizations establish and enforce data quality and security standards, increasing confidence in their data assets.

• Change management: Implementing a data governance program requires significant organizational processes, roles, and culture changes. Effective change management is necessary to address resistance, facilitate adoption, and ensure the success of data governance initiatives. One Masterclass participant noted, "Change management can’t be reactive. It needs dedicated focus, and it is often not prioritized."

Navigating data governance challenges

The Masterclass emphasized several common challenges faced by CDOs in implementing data governance initiatives, shedding light on the need for tailored strategies to address these issues:

• People and collaboration: One of the most significant challenges is building a culture of collaboration and engagement. Resistance to change can be a substantial hurdle. CDOs, therefore, must work diligently to foster an environment that encourages open communication, learning, and support. Addressing the human aspect of data governance is essential for successful implementation and adoption.

• Connecting data challenges with business outcomes: CDOs must demonstrate the value of data governance initiatives and link them to tangible business outcomes to secure buy-in from stakeholders. By clearly articulating how data governance drives efficiencies, reduces risk, and enables better decision-making, CDOs can link data governance to the organization’s overall objectives.

• Crawl, walk, run methodology: Adopting a phased approach to data governance allows organizations to build competencies gradually. By focusing on quick wins and addressing high-priority areas first, CDOs can demonstrate the value of data governance initiatives while laying the foundation for more comprehensive and mature data governance practices. This approach builds momentum and support among stakeholders early on.

The SwissLife Experience: A case study

On Day 2, SwissLife, a leading European insurance and pension company, shared insights into its data governance journey. Emmanuel Dubois, SwissLife’s Director of Data Governance and Quality, shared valuable lessons for other organizations looking to implement effective data governance programs.

Some of the key takeaways from Dubois’s presentation include:

1. Prioritize change management from day one: SwissLife underscored the significance of integrating change management strategies into its data governance program right from the beginning. Their proactive approach to change management helped them overcome resistance and foster collaboration among employees, facilitating a smoother transition to a data-driven culture.

2. Ensure support from top management: Securing buy-in from top management is vital for the success of data governance initiatives. At SwissLife, the leadership team actively drove and supported their data governance program, reinforcing its importance and encouraging employees to embrace new processes and practices.

3. Design a consistent governance framework: SwissLife designed a comprehensive and consistent governance framework that streamlined its data management processes. This cohesive approach ensured better data quality and accessibility, enabling employees to make more informed decisions based on accurate and reliable information.

4. Adopt a mixed approach with top-down and bottom-up strategies: SwissLife addressed strategic and operational aspects of data governance by combining top-down and bottom-up approaches. This balanced approach led to a more robust and effective program that catered to the needs of employees at all levels of the organization.

5. Focus on reliable and undisputable data sources: SwissLife highlighted the importance of prioritizing dependable and unambiguous data sources to build trust and confidence in the organization’s data-driven decision-making. SwissLife has established a strong foundation for its data governance initiatives and fostered an organization-centric culture by ensuring employees access to high-quality data.

SwissLife’s data governance journey offers compelling insights into successful change management. By prioritizing a proactive approach, securing top management buy-in, developing a consistent governance framework, and adopting a balanced strategy, SwissLife managed to foster a truly data-driven culture. 

An emphasis on reliable data sources underscores the importance of trust and confidence in driving data governance success. SwissLife’s experience is an inspiring example for other organizations embarking on their own data governance journeys.

Desired outcomes from data governance initiatives

On Day 3, the Masterclass emphasized several key outcomes that Chief Data Officers should aim to achieve through their initiatives, including:

Data culture and innovation focus: Establishing a vibrant data culture is vital for organizations to leverage data for competitive advantage. CDOs can encourage employees to explore new ways of using data to drive business results. This approach promotes proactive data management and unlocks the full potential of an organization’s data assets.

Common business language: A shared understanding of data terminology and concepts is crucial for effective organizational communication and collaboration. Developing a common business language ensures that all employees are on the same page regarding data, reducing misunderstandings, and facilitating more efficient decision-making processes.

Self-service search: Implementing self-service search capabilities empowers employees to easily access and utilize the data they need to be effective. Organizations can ensure that employees make informed decisions based on accurate and up-to-date information by providing user-friendly data exploration and analysis tools. Self-service search enhances productivity and fosters a data-driven mindset among staff, further reinforcing the organization’s data culture.

Looking Ahead: Change management for data governance success

Organizations face numerous challenges when implementing data governance programs. By focusing on the human aspect, CDOs can create a supportive environment for employees, encouraging collaboration and minimizing resistance to change. This approach also fosters a data-literate workforce better equipped to make data-driven decisions.

Aligning data governance initiatives with business drivers creates tangible value for an organization.  Demonstrating the connection between data governance efforts and positive business outcomes helps secure buy-in from stakeholders and provides a clear roadmap for success.

In this rapidly evolving field, continuous learning and collaboration are vital. With this in mind, I invite all professionals invested in this crucial domain to join us at the next DataGalaxy CDO Masterclass. It’s an invaluable opportunity to deepen your understanding and stay abreast of the latest in data governance and change management best practices.

See more from DataGalaxy’s Kash Mehdi:

The Powerful Role Data Catalogs Play in Data Transformation and Governance

About the Author

Kash Mehdi is the VP of Growth at DataGalaxy (the industry’s first data knowledge catalog). He spent the last decade scaling go-to-market functions at hyper-growth SaaS companies. He was Collibra’s 5th employee from its startup phase to achieving a multi-billion dollar valuation and with Informatica when it first entered the data governance space to its 2021 IPO achievement.

The data industry realizes Mehdi’s contributions as he continues to deliver data intelligence solutions worldwide to numerous customers and partners. He brings a wealth of international data management experience and has spent several years leading markets across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.

As more customers seek to unlock the value of their data assets, and with data volumes doubling at an unprecedented rate, Mehdi helps organizations democratize data knowledge and unlock competitive and monetary benefits.