7 steps to effective information governance strategies

The main objective of data governance is to ensure that all the information handled by a company is 100% reliable and valid in any context. Is your company really mastering its own data governance?

Simplicity, accessibility, and security are variables that are consolidated through data governance, but you have to know how to put all this into practice. Governance requires more than restricting access, it requires ensuring that people use data consistently.

7 Steps to Successful information governance strategies

The value of data is limited by the ability of users to understand and trust it. To reverse situations of mistrust, companies can implement information governance strategies and these are the fundamental steps to achieve it:

First step: Establish who will be responsible

First of all, it is necessary to designate one or more people in charge of managing data governance control. Those responsible for this will be the rulers of the process and those who make sure that everything works correctly, making the appropriate decisions until the previously set objectives are achieved. Typically, these managers have extensive knowledge of computers and are part of the company in a position of responsibility.

Second step: What will be our goals?

Once you know who is going to be responsible, the next step is to set the goals you want to achieve in order to be successful. These goals must be positive, remembering that the objective will always be the growth and development of the company. Goals should also be thoroughly defined so that they are easily measurable and specific. It is not advisable to establish general goals, each part of an organization will always need a specific objective.

Third step: Definition of metrics

Metrics play a very important role, without them, it will not be possible to know if the program is working or if it is reaching the previously set objectives. To carry out this step, it is necessary to define a specific indicator that is fundamental in terms of responding to the process of how these goals are being achieved.

Fourth step: Define policies

It is time to make decisions, and it is necessary to know that sometimes you have to be quick and specific. That is why it is advisable to have one or several people who have sufficient authority to do so. This is what led to the first point to choose the rulers.

Step Five: Communicate Policies

Irrespective of the method chosen to establish information governance policy, it is very important that they are communicated so that everyone knows the decisions that have been made. The communication of policies can be done by different means (email, document or even verbally) but it is essential that the dialogue be fluid and clear.

Step Six: Measure Results

Measuring allows us to know first-hand if the established goals have been achieved or if there is still a long way to go. Of course, it must be taken into account that these objectives are not always achieved 100%, so it is likely that changes will have to be made continuously.

Step Seven: Conduct Audits

This is a key process through which we will know what aspects of this data governance program have worked and what have not. It is advisable to carry out audits periodically and analyze why things happened, as well as clarify what the reasons were, either positively or negatively.

Data governance is not just a technological issue, working collectively and in sync is never easy, but if it is possible to organize by anticipating all these variables that were previously developed, the process is easier. It is important to create a working system, involve people, and encourage the type of behavior needed.

At the end of the day, an effective information governance plan requires that people buy into the system and maintain the processes. If you can keep things simple, you will be more likely to create consistency and continuity.

Read More — Information Governance, its Policies & Procedures