Data Governance - 8 - Strategy Flashcards
What does the Strategy work area in Data Governance (DG) involve?
It involves activities ensuring DG has value and meets business needs, considering elements like people, psychology, organization goals, timing, conflicts, technology, and external factors.
What is a critical reason for failure in Data Governance?
Not doing anything to benefit the organization, such as in terms of revenue, savings, expansion, or risk management.
What is the essence of strategy in Data Governance?
Aligning multiple elements to achieve several goals.
What should the DG team address for effective strategy?
Business alignment, defining the value of the program, and understanding high-level requirements.
True or False: Foundational projects like loading a glossary are always useful in Data Governance.
False.
What are the types of topics included in the strategy work area?
- Alignment
- Organization
- Value
- Strategic Requirements
What is meant by ‘alignment’ in Data Governance?
The direct linkage of efforts to manage information assets to organization strategies and measuring projects against anticipated benefits.
What is the role of a data warehouse in the context of DG?
To derive business benefits from accessible data and powerful analytics.
What is the first step in identifying business needs for Data Governance?
Understanding possible impacts of DG on the organization’s goals.
What type of activity is ‘identifying business needs’ in Data Governance?
An objective exercise focused on understanding the business’s goals rather than specific data requests.
What should be documented when understanding business needs?
Business goals and needs to map DG activity to them later.
What are the objectives of aligning Data Governance with business needs?
- Derive organization goals and objectives
- Identify DG opportunities to support business objectives
- Determine financial impacts of DG
What hierarchy is used to analyze goals and objectives in Data Governance?
- Drivers
- Business goals
- Objectives
- Measurable Attributes
Fill in the blank: A driver is usually stated in terms of a _______.
[direction]
What common scenarios lead to a revelation that data is not up to the task?
- MDM projects started as technology efforts
- Advanced analytics set up without business input
- ERP systems integrated without business drivers
How should the DG team approach understanding the business environment?
By looking at mass media, trade publications, and regulatory filings for business direction insights.
What is the ‘guerilla approach’ in the context of Data Governance?
Using external sources to infer business directions when internal documents are unavailable.
What is a major obstacle to aligning business and Data Governance?
The belief that technology ownership by the CIO includes data governance.
What is the outcome of failing to state DG’s operation in a business context?
Increased risk of failure for the DG initiative.
What should be done if no business plans are available for Data Governance?
Take a ‘guerilla approach’ to gather insights from external sources.
What is the primary focus of executives regarding data?
Lowering costs and increasing revenue.
What should the DG team list to understand how business will use information?
Specific activities where business will utilize information to achieve goals.
What is the sample output of business needs analysis in Data Governance?
A summarized output or strategy map showing how DG aligns with business goals and objectives.
What is the goal of improving the load factor on a system?
To increase efficiency in operations.
What is the target reduction for new transformer installation cycles?
One week.
What percentage of engineering project results should be on time and budget?
80%.
By what percentage should customer complaints be reduced?
25%.
What is meant by ‘Operational Excellence’?
Improving process efficiency and effectiveness.
What are the compliance standards mentioned?
- Reliability standards
- Call center responsiveness mandates
- Environmental mandates
What is the objective of meeting reliability targets?
To ensure consistent service delivery.
Fill in the blank: The goal is to increase customer satisfaction on new service to _______.
[specific satisfaction metric].
What is the target for reducing new connection time?
One week.
What does ‘GAIP™’ stand for?
Generally Accepted Information Principles.
What is one of the core principles of GAIP™ regarding data and content?
Data and content are assets and should be managed as such.
What does the principle of ‘Real Value’ indicate?
Data has value based on its contribution to business objectives.
True or False: Accountability requires identifying parties responsible for data assets.
True.
What is the significance of the ‘Due Diligence’ principle?
Risks must be reported and confirmed.
What should be included in the general outline for a principle?
- Short description
- Long description
- Rationale
- Implications
How many principles are typically started with before refining down?
12-14 principles.
What is the risk associated with data and content according to GAIP™?
There is a financial liability from regulatory and ethical misuse.
What is a critical success factor for data governance initiatives?
Executive sponsorship.
What is one outcome of developing core data principles?
It anchors the formation of policies.
What impact does the review and publication of principles have?
Establishes the relevance of the data governance team.
What is necessary for the success of principle development?
Review, participation, and buy-in from leadership.
Fill in the blank: The principles should be derived and refined _______.
formally.
What is the implication of having too many principles?
It indicates specificity that may lead to policy-making.
What should you ensure when developing principles to avoid confusion?
Do not interfere with existing business principles.
What is the expected outcome of a well-defined data governance program?
Business value and better data management.
What does the ‘Quality’ principle refer to?
The relevance, meaning, accuracy, and life cycle of data affecting financial status.
What does the ‘Audit’ principle entail?
Periodic audits of data accuracy by an independent body.
What is one important lesson learned regarding the alignment of business strategy and data governance?
Executive sponsorship is crucial for success.
What is the purpose of having a single, authoritative source for information?
To determine any fact about any subject or object of interest.
This ensures comprehensive data integrity and reduces confusion, complexity, and cost.
What are the benefits of having an authoritative source of data?
- Reduced risk from disconnected applications projects
- Improved business alignment due to structural need to collaborate
- Reduced costs associated with data and information movement
- Increased accuracy in business measures based on consistent data elements
These benefits highlight the importance of data governance in enhancing organizational efficiency.
What is a key rationale for maintaining data accuracy?
To resolve inconsistencies in data collected from various sources.
This provides a single accurate view necessary for effective decision-making.
True or False: Multiple data stores can exist, but only one is designated as authoritative.
True
This helps to maintain clarity in data governance.
What is the implication of having a centralized data management function?
It ensures a single, authoritative source exists for enterprise information.
This function is responsible for the governance and management of data.
Fill in the blank: The guiding business strategy includes principles such as _______.
[Increase shareholder value, Improve efficiency, Business alignment, Accountability, Risk management]
What should be the focus of information management applications?
To be aligned with business needs, not driven by technology.
This alignment ensures that information management effectively supports organizational goals.
What is the importance of data stewardship?
To ensure accountability for the overall integrity of enterprise data and content.
Data stewards play a critical role in governance and management of information.
What is the primary goal of developing business value of data governance (DG)?
To identify specific financial numbers and determine success metrics for DG.
This helps in justifying the investment in data governance initiatives.
What is a potential challenge when presenting the benefits of DG?
The benefits may not be directly attributable to DG efforts.
This requires careful discussion and justification of DG’s role in business outcomes.
What should organizations do to avoid DG losing its status as a business capability?
Review all existing business cases and initiatives for potential DG applications.
This ensures DG remains relevant and integrated into ongoing projects.
What is the significance of identifying base line policy requirements?
To define new strategic policies that have a significant impact on data governance.
This step helps in aligning data principles with organizational strategy.
What is a common misconception about the number of data principles needed?
That many principles are required, similar to having 20 commandments.
This can dilute the power of the philosophy and belief behind data governance.
What is the first step in determining baseline policy requirements?
Identify new strategic policies and obvious policies from initial principles.
What is an example of a strategic policy related to data management?
All significant data will have a defined and certified source.
What are the primary benefits of viewing potential data governance (DG) activity as strategic?
Increased awareness of requirements to operate the DG program.
Fill in the blank: The actual activity occurs along _______ efforts.
parallel
What is a key consideration when evaluating information principles?
Identifying implied policies.
What is one tip for success when introducing new policies?
Address concerns regarding readiness for change.
What is the relationship between capabilities and data governance?
Capabilities shape and convey the ‘What’ aspect of DG.
What should be done if obvious capabilities have not been identified?
Use alignment and business case activities to infer required capabilities.
True or False: Use cases should be viewed as tactical efforts.
False
What is the importance of use cases in DG?
They show value quickly and help maintain credibility for DG efforts.
What should be ensured when developing use cases?
Completion results in visible benefit.
What is one approach to developing use cases?
Review alignment and strategic documents for opportunities.
What should be included when presenting use cases to leadership?
Benefit, type of activity, and required DG capabilities.
What is the difference between DG use cases and regular projects?
DG use cases aim to add value and implement new DG capabilities.
What is the primary goal of the Rocky Health case study?
To show the value of data management and DG incrementally.
What is the significance of the alignment exercise in Diana’s strategy?
It provides value and support for DG initiatives.
Fill in the blank: Efficiency is doing things right; _______ is doing the right things.
effectiveness
What should a strategy for DG include?
Alignment, policy, and business value.
What is a common misconception about business intelligence (BI) as a use case?
BI is often treated as a standalone business use case, which is incorrect.
What is a function of alignment, policy, and business value?
Data Governance (DG)
DG involves aligning with business value and capabilities, even in minimally invasive strategies.
What does alignment get you in the context of Data Governance?
Business value and required capabilities and use cases.
What should you not despair about in Data Governance activities?
Pro-forma or deduced statements of value.
What tends to happen to business benefits in information projects?
They sail past any sort of information project and land at the feet of the business area.
What is the main benefit of formal consideration of Data Governance?
How DG will contribute to the business.
What are the relevant principles of information management used for?
To frame the statement of implications and rationale.
What do you need to identify after defining principles in Data Governance?
Who and where the DG happens.
What is needed to develop a clear statement of what DG needs to address?
Principles, capabilities, and use cases.
What might some readers think about Diana’s approach to enterprise initiatives?
It is too aggressive.
What must be considered when determining what needs to be done to support the organization?
Obvious capabilities and requirements.
What type of implementation is required for Data Governance?
Iterative implementation.
What is necessary before planning the implementation of DG?
Designing the DG operating models.
What will the next area of work supply after determining how DG should operate?
Architecture and Design.
What must be determined for the DG program before moving into planning implementation?
How the DG program should operate.
True or False: Strategy does not need to align with business needs for low profile DG implementation.
False
Even simple implementations should consider alignment with business needs.
How would your DG team approach alignment without a readily available business strategy?
Describe a method to identify alignment.
Why is it important to specify use cases in implementing DG?
To create small, incremental units of work.
