Preparing for a new approach to data governance
Bring campus on board with the need for data reform
Establishing and sustaining effective data governance means bringing campus on board with the need for data reform. Before jumping into a data governance redesign effort and creating a framework for oversight, CIOs, Institutional Research, and other campus sponsors should prepare campus for the upcoming change by identifying areas for improvement, enfranchising leaders, and communicating the need for investment in data governance.
Assess the maturity of current data governance practices
The first step in this process is to figure out the maturity of your current data governance efforts to determine what capabilities you have, what existing practices are effective, and the institutional readiness for change. We have created a self-test to help you assess your data governance maturity across these areas. Once finished, you will be able to identify strategic areas for focus moving forward.
To complete the self-test, download the PDF below and indicate how well each statement describes your institution.
This self-test, as you may have noticed, was comprised of 20 questions that focus on the core areas of data governance, broken out as listed:
- Questions 1-2: Institutional Strategy
- Questions 3-4: Data-Driven Culture
- Questions 5-6: Data Committee Structure
- Questions 7-8: Organizational Continuity
- Questions 9-10: Implementation Framework
- Questions 11-12: Definition Strategy
- Questions 13-14: Common Data Dictionary
- Questions 15-16: Data Access Controls
- Questions 17-18: Data Quality Assurance
- Questions 19-20: Data Consumption
Score range
- Data denier: 0-20%
- Barely begun: 21-40%
- Gathering steam: 41-60%
- Leading the pack: 61-80%
- Data dominance: 81-100%
Now that you’ve finished the self-test, you can utilize the resources in our Enterprise Data Management Resource Center to help guide your data efforts on the journey to effective data governance. Whether your self-test results identified that you need help in communicating the importance of data governance, designing oversight, defining definitions and processes, or delivering on your data governance promise, we have resources to help.
Preparing to build a data governance strategy and support for data efforts on campus?
We recommend you use the following resources to jump-start your efforts:
Looking to design your data governance committees and structures?
We recommend you use our Designing Effective Data Governance playbook, which provides guidance on the following:
- Data governance committees
- Leadership and organizational continuity
- Implementation and stewardship frameworks
Trying to define data definitions and build a common data dictionary?
We recommend you use our Defining Enterprise Data Terms for Campus playbook, which provides guidance on the following:
- Strategic focus areas for data definition
- Data definition processes and standards
- Data dictionary design principles
Ready to deliver quality data and ensure user needs are effectively and properly met?
We recommend you use our Delivery Quality Data to Campus playbook, which provides guidance on the following:
- Data security and access controls
- Data quality accountability measures
- Data user feedback mechanisms
This resource requires EAB partnership access to view.
Access the tool
Learn how you can get access to this resource as well as hands-on support from our experts through IT Strategy Advisory Services.
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