Data Governance

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Preface

As a rule, he or she who has the most information will have the greatest

success in life.

Benjamin Disraeli

In recent years, there has been enormous growth of data in organizations.

is data has become the basis of competition, productivity, growth, and

innovation. e rise in volume of data through the Internet, social media,

and multimedia is adding new challenges and opportunities for harnessing

the power of information. ere is much discussion today on using orga-

nizational data to derive value. As organizations respond to strategic and

operational challenges that demand high-quality data, data governance

is emerging as an important area in enterprise information management.

As organizations deploy business intelligence and analytic systems to

harness information and business value from their data assets, programs

for the governance of data are gaining prominence. Data management

issues have traditionally been assigned to and addressed by IT depart-

ments in organizations. However, organizational issues critical to suc-

cessful data management require the implementation of enterprise-wide

accountabilities and responsibilities. Data governance encompasses both

the decision domains and the accountability for decision making. Eective

data management requires a data governance structure and framework

that emphasizes collaboration between business and IT to support organi-

zational goals. It brings together diverse expectations and expertise from

across the enterprise to achieve an agreed upon, consistent, and trans-

parent set of processes that enable data-informed decision making. is

book looks at the needs and processes for data governance to manage data

eectively. It addresses the complete life cycle of eective data governance

from metadata management to privacy and compliance. ese also are

highlighted through case studies.

e goal of this book is to assist others who are on the journey to derive

value from informational assets using data governance. e book is a sum-

mation of experiences of experts and addresses an area that is of growing

interest to the information systems and management community. Book

chapters present how ideas have been adapted as techniques and policies

viii  •  Preface

for practice in organizations in their journey to successful data gover-

nance. Case studies from healthcare and nancial sectors, two industries

that have successfully leveraged the potential of data-driven strategies,

provide further insights into real-time practice.

A popular government without popular information or the means of acquir-

ing it is but a Prologue to Farce, or a Tragedy, or perhaps both. Knowledge

will forever govern ignorance and a people who mean to be their own

Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.

James Madison