Developing a mission statement and documented dispute resolution process are two of the ten steps to effective data governance outlined in the document. Other key steps include controlling access to business data, implementing a business risk register, ensuring good business processes through data modeling and documentation, conducting data quality assessments, building a business case, integrating data governance into employee tasks and targets, providing necessary training, and educating the workforce about the data governance program.

1. A mission statement acts as an essential vision for
your company and means that the whole workforce
understands the company vision and works
together to achieve this.
10 Easy steps to
data governance
Develop a mission statement
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Put in place a documented
dispute resolution process
By having a documented dispute resolution
process in place companies are effectively taking
out insurance against the unpredictable and
preparing for the unexpected.
Control access to business data
3
Although we may trust our employees implicitly
it is advisable to control access to business
data in order to protect it, granting access on
a ‘need to know’ basis.
4
Implement a
Business risk register
Setting up a business risk register is a necessary
step: a good contingency plan means rational
and strategic decisions are made, even in times
of crisis.
Good business processes
5
Ensure that you build solid data models and
document business processes diligently.
Keeping these up to date will result in
consistency in service level provision.
6
Data quality assessments
Data quality audits can be time consuming but
they are a valuable activity in ensuring against
inaccuracy.
Build a business case
7
Invest time in building a business case
– this will pay off in the long run should the
unexpected occur.
8
Integrate data governance in
employee’s tasks and targets
By making data governance a part of people’s
tasks and targets – they will be motivated to help
themselves and the business, to achieve wider
targets.
Training is necessary
Training up the workforce on the job will ensure
that employees fully understand and know what
is required of them, especially if they have no
previous knowledge or exposure of data
governance and why it may benefit them.
Educate the workforce on
the data governance program
Knowledge is power and people react best
to a change in their working practices when it
is clearly articulated.
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