| If you're asking this question, good for you. It | | | | together ensures that all problems are identified |
| shows that you are interested in a discipline that | | | | and that all solutions are agreeable to each group. |
| will provide you with a set of best practices for: | | | | If the data issues and solutions were all done in |
| (1) improving the quality of your data | | | | IT, there would be no input from the business |
| (2) improving the financial value your data brings | | | | units, and as such it wouldn't be a forward-thinking |
| to your organization and/or | | | | solution. Only the council knows where the |
| (3) reducing the risk associated with data. | | | | business is heading, and should account for this in |
| So, to answer the title question... yes, you | | | | their solutions. |
| probably need Data Governance in some form at | | | | For small organizations, the council is generally just |
| your organization. It is critical to have the business | | | | a few people. This group is usually able to make |
| working with the IT department to ensure that | | | | snap decisions because they are all very aware of |
| data issues are solved at the root with a | | | | each other's work. In large organizations, business |
| long-term solutions. | | | | units are generally so silo'd that a group might not |
| When I say the business, I am referring to the | | | | realize that stuffing a field in their group adversely |
| Data Governance Council. The Data Governance | | | | affect another. Bringing business groups together |
| Council is generally made up of a representative | | | | to talk about these type of issues before |
| (mid to high level, someone who can make | | | | 'stuffing' will ensure that these types of problems |
| decisions) from each business unit. Bring | | | | are avoided. |
| representatives from each line of business | | | | |