Q1. Is there a centralised data governance body or committee?

Why it's important:

Creating a trusted group of enthused data champions is a sure fire way of bringing the organisation on the journey, remember that governance is the vehicle that protects you, but it also enables you to innovate and create a data enabled organisation.

A central governance body provides oversight and ensures consistent data management practices across the organisation.

Potential outcomes of success: Improved data consistency, better adherence to data policies, and clearer decision-making around data.

Q2. Are clear data ownership and accountability defined for all data assets?

Why it's important:

When data becomes a growing concern, the definition of roles that are created to protect, de risk and empower are the bedrock of a successful data enabled organisation.  Remember, you don't have to have an army of people, but you do have to have people that understand how to keep you safe and compliant.  Fines are becoming a real possibility, breaches are more common and falling foul of increasing data compliance driven by Governments is becoming significant, particularly due to high visibility opportunities such as Ai.

Clearly defined ownership ensures that someone is responsible for the quality, security, and management of each data asset.

Potential outcomes of success: Enhanced data quality, easier issue resolution, and better management of data assets.

Q3. Is there a data glossary or metadata repository to document data definitions and standards?

Why it's important:

Often referred to as a Data Catalogue, a central document that helps you to understand where your data is, how it is structured and what components exist within that data helps you leverage the value is a really helpful way of keeping on top of your growing asset.

Sustainable data management helps you identify what data you have, what you need, and what you can get rid of to help keep your costs and carbon footprint down is a great incentive to be a responsible data owner.  The age of mass consumption makes way for sensible, structured data consumption of essential of valuable data, not data for data sake.

A data glossary helps everyone understand data consistently, while a metadata repository provides context and lineage for data assets.

Potential outcomes of success: Improved data understanding, easier data discovery, and better data integration.

Q4. Are data quality standards and metrics defined and monitored?

Why it's important:

Data Quality is the bedrock of effective and valuable data, having sensible quality measures that are defined and monitored can save you masses of retrospective quality work or ETL initiatives.  Quality in reduces cost and sets you up for quality outcomes that are transformational.

Defined and monitored data quality standards ensure that data is fit for its intended purpose.

Potential outcomes of success: More reliable reporting and analytics, increased trust in data, and reduced errors from poor data quality.

Q5. Are data processes and workflows documented and standardised?

Why it's important:

The process your data goes through, sometimes referred to as data lineage, helps you to ensure that you are architecting, structuring and controlling your data effectively.  When data is out of control, knowing what is being created, and where it travels throughout your organisation can save you huge amounts of time and money in retrospective or ongoing maintenance of your asset.

Documented and standardised processes lead to more consistent and efficient data handling.

Potential outcomes of success: Reduced errors in data processing, easier knowledge sharing, and improved efficiency.

Q6. Are data integration and ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes well-defined and managed?

Why it's important:

The less you have to "manage" your data, the simpler the control and leveraging of data becomes.  Large organisations end up with complex ETL or ELT processes to simple manage their data, large teams or complex systems are usually required.  As you grow on your journey, a sensible and controllable process of your data can be a game changer.

Well-defined integration processes ensure that data flows smoothly between systems, enabling a unified view.

Potential outcomes of success: Better data accessibility, improved reporting capabilities, and a more holistic understanding of the business.

Q7. Is there a data catalog or inventory to manage and discover data assets?

Why it's important:

A data catalog helps users find and understand available data assets, promoting data sharing and reuse.  A centrally controlled picture of your asset, how it is architected, where it resides, who owns and controls it, and vitally, the value this data provides can open up huge potential across your organisation by simply knowing what you've got!

Potential outcomes of success: Increased data discoverability, reduced redundant data, and better utilisation of data assets.

Q8. Are data security and privacy policies and procedures in place?

Why it's important:

Security against the growing threats and cyber issues are one of the biggest challenges of a data enabled organisation.  Success is driven by strong policies, adherence to robust security protocols and organisational alignment to external compliance models such as cyber essentials helps to make sure you are not the next victim of a data breach, internal or external, and that you are not fined huge sums.  Scrutiny and enforced adherence is enforced by governments, but successfully avoided by your organisational security strategy.

Robust security and privacy measures protect sensitive data and maintain compliance.

Potential outcomes of success: Reduced risk of data breaches, enhanced customer trust, and compliance with regulations.

Q9. Are data backups and disaster recovery plans in place?

Why is it important?

Making sure that in the event of an issue, data is recoverable is essential for not only business continuity, but in order to ensure that your business is not severely impacted at an operational level, a customer level or at a compliance level.  

System issues are common, loss of data that impacts trust in your ability both internally and externally can cause more damage that the actual breach or loss of data.

Potential outcomes of success:  Reduced risk of data loss, continuity of data effectiveness and de risking reputational damage.

Q10. Are data access controls and permissions managed effectively?

Why it's important:

Who has access, why they have access and how access is controlled forms part of your data security and compliance measures.  Stories of people leaving organisations who still have access years later are interesting and comical, however the reality of not controlling access and permissions exposes your organisation to huge risk, fines and a complete breakdown of trust in your ability to control your asset.

Effective access controls ensure that only authorised individuals can access specific data, maintaining security and privacy.

Potential outcomes of success: Enhanced data security, improved compliance, and better control over sensitive information.