You're facing pushback from colleagues on data governance. How can you convince them of its importance?

Start by understanding the reasons/rationale to opposition. Most common issues often revolve around lack of infrastructure (people, processes, tools) or lack of implementation and/or adoption. Data governance does not generate revenue and this tends to make it a lower visibility priority the higher up the corporate food chain one climbs. But practical reality remains that principles of Data Governance are essential in this digital age. ‘Garbage in garbage out’ has become more prominent with movement towards harnessing organizational data for analysis and value. If the data is inaccurate or inconsistent, any issues one can conjure to compromise its trustworthiness; THIS is why DG requires a seat at the table. Without it, risk is increased.

If you can establish a clear line of sight between governance tasks and business value and have business to take ownership of the “fit for purpose” aspect of data, then data governance becomes a shared objective and much easier to execute.

Education. Employees need to be involved in the data governance journey. Without people it won't work. Tie DG back to real business processes and real business benefits/outcomes. How can DG help them in their daily work? Remove frustrations with data, simplify workstreams, the value add of data quality - an explanation of why and how it is important. Help them to see DG as an enabler not another layer of bureaucracy or burdensome oversight.

Start by emphasizing that data governance is like the brakes on a car. You don't have brakes to always drive slowly, they're there to allow you to go fast in a safe way. In a similar fashion, data governance should enable your business processes to fire on all pistons, rather than always slowing things down. This messaging can be further amplified by changing the label 'Data Governance', which often has a more negative connotation, to 'Data Enablement' or 'Data Excellence', which sounds more positive/constructive.

La gobernanza de datos facilita estandarizar y automatizar flujos de trabajo, facilitando la toma de decisiones rápidas y precisas. Además, reduce el riesgo de violaciones de datos mediante el control de acceso, el monitoreo continuo y el cumplimiento normativo.

Uno de los principales beneficios de la gobernanza de datos es la clara segmentación del flujo de datos, identificando un único origen en el DataLakehouse y aplicando reglas de negocio. Esto permite a los productos que consumen los datos, optimizar sus procesos mediante la generación de flujos simples con datos transformados.

Listen to your colleagues' concerns about data governance thoroughly. They might worry about the time investment or the perceived complexity. Acknowledge these concerns and provide reassurance by explaining how data governance streamlines processes in the long run and reduces the risk of data breaches. Show them that while the initial setup requires effort, the eventual outcome is a more efficient and secure data environment.

Address any regulatory compliance concerns colleagues may have, especially in sensitive sectors. Data governance demonstrates a proactive approach to data protection.

Establecer reglas claras sobre la gestión de datos asegura que todos los empleados sigan los mismos procedimientos, reduciendo la duplicación de esfuerzos y minimizando errores.

One effective way to overcome resistance is to demonstrate how data governance simplifies work, not complicates it. Break down the processes into manageable steps and show how it can integrate with existing workflows. Offer training sessions to make the transition smoother. Once your colleagues understand that data governance can make their jobs easier by reducing errors and duplications, they are more likely to get on board.

Data governance often faces resistance due to perceived complexity. Simplifying workflows and enhancing efficiency can convert skeptics. Breaking down governance into steps and integrating with existing workflows, such as automating data entry to reduce errors and duplications, shows clear benefits. Training sessions demystify governance, improving data accuracy and reliability. As a business process analyst in a consulting company on operation, I’ve seen effective governance streamline operations, cutting report generation time by 30% and reducing data errors by 50%. Simplification and support shift governance from a burden to a valuable tool.

Frame data governance as a way to streamline workflows, not create red tape. Highlight how it saves time by eliminating the need to hunt for or clean up messy data.

People often resist new practices if they don’t understand how it will help them or if it seems like extra work. I’ve been in situations where people were skeptical about changing their usual ways of handling data. To overcome this, I start by implementing data governance best practices in my own projects and then share the positive outcomes with my colleagues. For instance, I highlight how much time we save by not having to fix data errors and how much easier reporting becomes with standardized data. When my colleagues see these tangible benefits, they start to understand the value of data governance. Showing them real results helps convince them that it’s worth the effort.

en proyectos del area , nos enfocamos en la automatización de procesos y la estandarización de manejo de datos para eliminar redundancias y optimizar la operación. Esto permite al equipo enfocarse en tareas de mayor valor, mejorando la productividad general.

To convince your colleagues of the importance of data governance, lead by example. Start implementing best practices within your own projects and share the positive outcomes. When others see the tangible benefits, such as time saved by not having to correct data errors or the ease of reporting with standardized data, they'll begin to understand its value.

Data governance is often seen as bureaucratic and restrictive. Hence we should reframe data governance as an enabler of innovation and efficiency. Highlight how proper governance can actually streamline processes, improve data quality, and enable more confident decision-making. Provide specific examples of how good governance has led to better outcomes in your industry.

People are often resistance to change. The same people can feel threatened or overwhelmed by new systems, especially if they think it will make their jobs harder or if they don’t understand the benefits. I’ve faced this pushback myself, and it’s tough when everyone is used to doing things a certain way. To overcome this, the best approach is to encourage collaboration. Make your colleagues part of the process from the beginning. Encourage them to share their concerns/ideas, and work together to create a governance framework that everyone can agree on. This way, they’ll feel like they have a stake in the new system. When people feel heard and involved, they’re more likely to support & take ownership of the new Data Governance policies

Convincing colleagues of data governance's importance involves emphasizing collaboration across departments. Encourage participation in creating the governance framework, ensuring it addresses all concerns. This inclusive approach fosters ownership and responsibility, reducing resistance. Always listen to everyone's opinions and ideas, using soft-spoken, moderate language to foster true innovation. Slowly guide everyone to a shared understanding, giving stakeholders the chance to decide together. Escalation should only be a last measure. This method not only promotes effective data governance but also highlights the value of thoughtful and inclusive leadership.

Data governance is not a one-person show; it requires collaboration across departments. Encourage your colleagues to participate in creating the governance framework. This inclusive approach ensures that the system works for everyone and addresses all concerns. Collaboration fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility, which can significantly reduce resistance.

Establish a culture that values data as an asset can drive the adoption of data governance by promoting a culture where data is seen as a critical asset, and everyone takes ownership and accountability for its quality and governance. Recognize and reward those who actively contribute to data governance efforts.

Need to do a lot of workshop to mid and high management to to show how importance of data governance in making easy and right decisions in short time specially in when the organization going to take new projects. The benefits will be to estimate the net profit of the new project before it start and avoid any risk might appear during the new project which might cost the organization a lot of money and to avoid affecting the organization market share . Also, to make it easier for the decision makers when to get rid of the project before it is too late to avoid any losses.

Sometimes, people push back simply because they don't know enough about why it matters or how it can benefit them and the organization. I’ve seen this happen a lot, where misinformation or lack of information leads to resistance. To tackle this, continuous education is needed. Keep sharing useful articles, case studies, and success stories that highlight the benefits and importance of data governance. Organize regular discussions or workshops where everyone can learn about best practices and the evolving nature of data management. The more informed they are, the more likely they’ll appreciate the need for data governance. I believe when people understand how something can help them and the org, they’re much more open to supporting it.

Finally, education is key to overcoming pushback on data governance. Keep the conversation going by sharing articles, case studies, and success stories about data governance. Organize regular discussions or workshops to keep everyone updated on best practices and the evolving nature of data management. The more your colleagues know about data governance, the more likely they are to see its importance.

Constantly explore the WHY with your colleagues. Some governance processes are like rituals and myths. Everyone knows them, and how to do them but nobody remembers why. Create byte sized learning around new processes and complex existing processes. Remind colleagues of the drawbacks of poor governance (rollbacks, defects, time delays etc. ) Everyone wants to know what’s in it for them so make the effort of doing governance less painful than the consequences of not doing it well in their minds.

Data governance is sacrosanct and there cannot be any compromise. An organisation is expected to define its data governance rules clearly and all the constituents are then expected to abide by them meticulously. It does happen that sometimes a part of data is required for personal use for which the data needs to be shared to personal account. This should be done with the prior approval so that such part of data can be white listed, after due consideration, for sharing.

Having clear data governance rules helps standardize data operations across the company, builds trust among different stakeholders, and makes everything more transparent. This leads to better collaboration, communication, and outcomes.

Most often the resistance comes to adopt something new and unknown. Hence, as Data Governance professionals we need to provide a comfort that this is not something new. In most organisations data consumers are already taking care of their data in some form or the other. Therefore, it is best if we can leverage on those scattered data processes, by consolidating those, defining them, bettering those and attaching accountability around those processes. Thereafter, we need to demonstrate that how these ungoverned processes when brought under the ambit of a consolidated Data Strategy gives more meaning to the Data along with increasing the quality and streamline the data flow.

Consider sharing examples from other organizations or industry benchmarks to highlight the benefits of effective data governance. Demonstrating the success stories of peers can provide a compelling argument for adopting robust data governance practices. By addressing these points, you can effectively convince your colleagues of the importance of data governance and foster a culture that values high-quality, reliable data.

Highlight and convey them clearly the Benefits of Data Governance, how DG can positively impact the organization? 1. Improved Data Quality:Consistent data standards and practices ensure accurate, reliable, and up-to-date information, which enhances decision making. 2. Regulatory Compliance: Helps meet legal and regulatory requirements. 3. Operational efficiencies: Streamline processes, reduces redndundancy, and minimizes errors, leading to cost savings and improved productivity. 4. Enhanced Security: protects sensitive information from unauthorized access and breaches, safeguarding the organization's reputation and assets. 5. Better Decision-Making: Provides a reliable foundation for making informed decisions based on high-quality data.