Keep in mind that data governance and data intelligence is not only about technology and information but also about staff. Make it easy for the staff at your organization to follow data-related policies and processes. Eliminate as many data-related frustrations as possible. If staff feel valued, have low frustrations, and are empowered to be more autonomous, they will be more comfortable, engaged and effective collaborators. Organizations face challenges in maintaining skilled and motivated staff. To attract and maintain staff, organizations should strive to remove frustrations. This blog post will discuss 25 data-related staff frustrations along with a suggestion for removal and some additional resources. In a previous blog post we wrote about “Data Governance is About Helping People and Guidance”. Remember that people are a critical component of data governance.
Any organization and its management should do the following:
- help its staff adapt, improve, and thrive
- learn how to save staff time and avoid frustration
- ask how the staff can be helped
- focus on staff user experience
- create an environment where staff feel valued and see themselves as an integral part of the organization
- put staff first so that they will be better equipped to navigate change and drive innovation
- make changes to processes so staff can better support customers, vendors, partners, donors, or students
Here are some data-related frustrations that an organization’s staff may have (along with removal suggestions and resources):
- Frustrated by not finding information (such as report information, business glossary defintions, data policies, etc.) about data quickly (or at all) - Solve this frustration with online documentation that is searchable. Having a tool like the Data Cookbook with a knowledge base in place helps with this.
Additional Resources: Data Cookbook website
- Frustrated by not being able to request data-related items easily - Solve this frustration by having a data request system that is known and easy to use, with known points of engagement including making requests from the inside of reports. Data-related items include requests for new reports, curation of existing reports, requests for new definitions, requests for fixing integrations, and requests for the addition of a new reference data value.
Additional Resources: Resources for Best Practices and Life Cycle of Data Requests blog post and Understanding Data Governance Points of Engagement blog post
- Frustrated by not knowing where their submitted data-related request stands or its resolution - Solve this frustration by having a data request workflow with data stewards who can communicate with the requesters and where requesters will be informed automatically when their request is completed. Additional Resources: Resources for Best Practices and Life Cycle of Data Requests blog post
- Frustrated by confusion on terms or report column meaning (two individuals might have a difference of opinion on a business term) - Solve this frustration by having an up-to-date and comprehensive business glossary in place that explains organizational terms.
Additional Resources: Business Glossary Spotlight Web Page
- Frustrated by not knowing what’s going on with the data governance initiative at the organization – Solve this frustration by having a data governance communication plan managed by a data governance committee responsible for ongoing communications (the right amount at the right time). The communication to staff should mention the data governance benefits to staff and reassure them that there is a data governance framework in place.
Additional Resources: Here's Some Data Intelligence Resources Regarding Communication and Training blog post
- Frustrated by not having the necessary data-related training - Solve this frustration by setting up as much self-service data-related training as possible. Have data-related onboarding training (including about security and how to use the data governance tool) in place for new employees. The organization needs to foster a culture of continuous learning and invest in staff training. The organization should ensure that staff have access to the appropriate level of training to support their current roles and responsibilities and to prepare them for the future.
Additional Resources: Here's Some Data Intelligence Resources Regarding Communication and Training blog post
- Frustrated by not knowing where to find information about the organization's data governance activites (such as how to make requests and data governance resources) – Solve this frustration by having a data governance portal (hub or web page) where information can be found.
Additional Resources: Data Intelligence Portal and Frequency of Data Governance Training blog post
- Frustrated by not knowing what the goals for data governance are and where the data governance initiative is headed - Solve this frustration by having the data governance committee set goals, create a roadmap and communicate the roadmap to others. Do not expect staff to fill in all the gaps on their own. Connect the work to the goal.
Additional Resources: Setting Goals and Creating Your Data Governance / Data Intelligence Roadmap recorded webinar
- Frustrated by not having enough staff resources in place (primarily data stewards) to handle data requests or knowing who is the right person to contact - Solve this frustration by selecting, training, and empowering the necessary data stewards. Create a matrix of data stewards for each department. Have workflows in place that automatically assign the right data steward to the request.
Additional Resources: Data Stewardship Spotlight web page
- Frustrated by not knowing the organization's data policies - Solve this frustration by having data policies in place that are known and accessible to the staff (such as in a solution like the Data Cookbook).
Additional Resources: Data Policies Spotlight web page
- Frustrated by not having the necessary tools to assist their efforts and improve their knowledge of the organization’s data – Solve this frustration by having a solution in place such as the Data Cookbook.
Additional Resources: Data Cookbook website
- Frustrated that they do not understand what data exists - Solve this frustration by having an accessible, updated knowledge base with data models, functional definitions, and technical definitions in place that can be easily searched.
Additional Resources: Data Governance Framework: Knowledge Base blog post
- Frustrated that the organization’s leadership has not dedicated the necessary resources and money to tools and communication – Solve this frustration by budgeting money to data-related tools and communication which shows commitment to the data governance efforts at the organization.
Additional Resources: Responsibilities of a Data Governance Leadership and Oversight Committee blog post
- Frustrated in the quality of the organization's data - Solve this frustration by having a focus on data quality and having data quality problem reporting process, data quality rules, and data quality assessments in place.
Additional Resources: Data Quality Spotlight web page
- Frustrated by not having access to the data that they need – Solve this frustration by having a data system inventory in place so that access information can be seen and a way to request access.
Additional Resources: Data System Inventory Spotlight web page
- Frustrated by not knowing who owns the data that they need – Solve this frustration by having a data system inventory in place so that the owner of the data is clearly defined and includes contact information.
Additional Resources: Data System Inventory Spotlight web page
- Frustrated by not knowing where the data came from – Solve this by having a solution in place like the Data Cookbook that tracks data lineage so that lineage can be clearly seen.
Additional Resources: Need Help with Data Lineage? Here Are Some Resources to Assist blog post
- Frustrated that they are not empowered to make the decisions and make changes that they can do – Solve this frustration by empowering these individuals by making them data stewards.
Additional Resources: Data Stewardship Spotlight web page
- Frustrated that processes and automations are not in place that will save them time and effort – Solve this frustration by having a solution like the Data Cookbook in place that has processes and automation capabilities in place that will save them time and effort.
Additional Resources: Evaluate Your Data Governance Processes blog post
- Frustrated that data governance is part of their job but not in their job descriptions – Solve this frustration by working with HR to update the job descriptions and working with managers to allocate the necessary time for data governance-related activities.
Additional Resources: Here’s Some Resources Regarding People and Data Governance / Data Intelligence blog post
- Frustrated that problems occur when reference data and valid value lists are changed – Solve this frustration by having a solution in place like the Data Cookbook that can notify data stewards when reference data is changed so that any necessary fixes can be made quickly before problems occur.
Additional Resources: Here are Some Resources Regarding Reference Data Lists blog post
- Frustrated that they are not being listened to about data and data-related policies – Solve this frustration by talking to staff and getting their data-related feedback. Make sure that you respond to their concerns and give them updates on what is being done.
Additional Resources: Listen to Employees on How to Improve Data Intelligence Efforts blog post
- Frustrated that there are data silos at the organization and the same information is in multiple places – Solve this frustration by having a data system inventory so that silos can be identified and eliminated. When data is kept and segregated, frustration sets in. Silos usually occur when there is a non-communication, non-collaboration culture at the organizaiton.
Additional Resources: Data Governance Breaks Down Silos (Data and Organizational) blog post
- Frustrated by not having the necessary tools to assist their efforts and improve their knowledge of the company's data - Solve this frustration by having a solution in place such as the Data Cookbook which serves a framework and one place for all things data-related.
Additional Resources: Data Cookbook website
- Frustrated by complicated data-related processes – Solve this frustration by making processes less complicated. The organization should be committed to streamlining processes. Automate these processes where possible.
Additional Resources: Just-in-Time Data Governance Processes blog post
How many of these frustrations do the staff at your organization have? By solving as many of the above data-related frustrations as possible, the staff will be much happier, and the organization will be more successful. Talk to your staff and find out their frustrations. Find a way to minimize or eliminate these frustrations and future frustrations. Hope you found this blog post useful. All the IData-created data governance and data intelligence resources (blog posts, videos, and recorded webinars) can be found at www.datacookbook.com/dg.
IData has a solution, the Data Cookbook, that can aid the employees and the organization in its data governance, data intelligence, data stewardship and data quality initiatives. IData also has experts that can assist with data governance, reporting, integration and other technology services on an as needed basis. Feel free to contact us and let us know how we can assist.
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