In our previous article, we examined how the implementation of Data Mesh at “WAL Tech” revolutionized data management and maximized efficiency across multiple business domains. If you missed that fascinating journey, I invite you to catch up by reading it here.
Regardless of whether you are considering implementing a decentralized data governance approach, like Data Mesh, or a more centralized system, it is imperative to not only have the right people in key roles but also understand the responsibilities and functions that are crucial for the success of your Data Governance initiative aligned with being a data-driven enterprise strategy.
To make it more understandable and didactic, I will use the analogy of an orchestra to explain these concepts. 🎼
The Data Governance Orchestra: Everyone Has a Role 🎻📊
Introduction
Data governance is like an orchestra: it requires diverse instruments and talents to create a finely-tuned symphony. In this article, we will explore how each role in data governance is fundamental for the success of the ensemble.
The Orchestra Conductor: Chief Data Officer (CDO) 👑
The CDO acts as the orchestra director, setting the vision and coordinating all data governance efforts. They represent authority and overall responsibility over data.
They ensure that all “instruments” (departments and technologies) work in harmony to achieve the company’s strategic objectives.
The Composer: Data Owner 🗝️
The Data Owner is like the composer of the orchestra. This role defines what “music” (data) needs to be “composed” (collected and stored) and how it should be “played” (used and shared). They hold rights over a specific dataset.
The First Violin: Data Steward 🛡️
The Data Steward is the “first violin” in the data governance orchestra. This role is responsible for ensuring the quality, consistency, and availability of the data.
In an orchestra, the first violin not only has to play well but also lead the string section. Likewise, the Data Steward plays a crucial role in implementing data policies and standards, and is responsible for protecting and ensuring the quality of the data.
The “Sound Engineer”: Data Architect 🔧
The Data Architect could be represented as the “Sound Engineer”.
In an orchestra, they ensure that all the instruments are heard in perfect harmony and that the sound reaches the audience clearly.
This role is responsible for building and maintaining the data infrastructure so that data flows effectively and is available for analysis. Their role is essential for all the ‘sound’ from the ‘data lake’, the ‘data warehouse’, or the ‘data lakehouse’ to reach the ‘listeners’ (other roles like Data Scientist or Business/Data Analyst) as clearly and usefully as possible.
The Wind Instruments: Data Analysts and Data Scientists 📊
These roles are the “wind instruments” that bring data to life. They perform analyses and generate valuable insights, which can be as emotive and powerful as a wind section in an orchestra.
The Theater Security Chief: Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) 🔒
The CISO is responsible for the overall security of the “theater” (the IT infrastructure and data). They ensure that the environment in which the “orchestra” performs its “act” (data management) is secure and protected against both external and internal threats. They are responsible for information security and data protection.
The Licensing and Rights Manager: Data Protection Officer (DPO) 📜
Now that we’ve addressed security, let’s move on to another key role in data governance: the Data Protection Officer. The DPO ensures that all the “sheet music” (data) is used ethically and in compliance with data protection laws. They act as a mediator between the company and regulatory authorities, being responsible for complying with data protection regulations.
The Arranger: Data Product Owner 🎯
The Data Product Owner, on the other hand, is like a musical arranger.
They take the original “composition” (raw data) and “arrange” it for different “performances” (business use cases), ensuring that each “instrument” (department or technology) can “play it” effectively.
They are responsible for defining the value and usage of a data product.
Differences Between Data Steward, Data Owner, and Data Product Owner 🔄
With the new role of Data Product Owner in Data Mesh, you might have questions, so I will briefly explain the differences between the roles.
While the Data Owner might be more of a decision-maker and the Data Steward more of an implementor, the Data Product Owner in a Data Mesh environment often takes on a role that combines aspects of both: making decisions and also being involved in the implementation and availability of the “data product”.
So, although there are similarities and overlaps, they are not the same profile. Each has its place, depending on the specific data management approach your organization is adopting.
Practical Examples
Data Steward
Practical Example: Imagine a company has a sales data set that includes sensitive customer information. The Data Steward would ensure that this data is properly anonymized before being used in any analysis, complying with privacy and security policies.
Data Owner
Practical Example: In the same context, the Data Owner would be the person deciding who has access to these sales data in the first place. It could be the Sales Director or someone in a similar position. They set policies on how and where this data is stored, and who can access or modify it.
Data Product Owner
Practical Example: Now, if the marketing department wants to use these sales data for designing a new advertising campaign, the Data Product Owner would step in to facilitate this process. They would ensure the data set is in a usable format for the marketing team and that all security and privacy guidelines are respected. They would also take care of updating or modifying the data set as needed for the project.
Summary
Each of these roles has responsibilities that may sometimes overlap, but they are different in their approach and scope of action:
• The Data Steward is responsible for the quality and compliance of the data.
• The Data Owner decides what data is collected and who has access to it.
• The Data Product Owner facilitates the effective use of the data for different projects or departments within the organization.
Conclusion
In the complex ecosystem of data management, each role is like an instrument in an orchestra: indispensable for performing a symphony that resonates throughout the entire organization. And it’s not just good practice; it’s a critical necessity for the success of any Data Governance initiative in data-driven companies.
But why is it so crucial? 🤔
- Business Agility: With clearly defined roles, decisions are made faster, leading to greater business agility.
- Data Quality and Compliance: Ensures the data is accurate, consistent, and secure, minimizing risks and maximizing trust.
- Resource Optimization: Avoids duplication of efforts and focuses resources on activities that generate maximum value.
- Innovation and Competitiveness: Facilitates rapid adaptation to new technologies and approaches, keeping your company at the forefront in a constantly evolving world of data.
- High ROI: At the end of the day, good data governance translates into a significant return on investment, whether through improving internal operations or boosting customer-centric strategies.
So, if you want your data strategy to be more than just a mere collection of isolated notes and aspire to be a well-executed symphony, every member of your “data orchestra” needs to know their role and how their instrument contributes to the whole. Only then can you create music that not only sounds good, but also helps your business thrive in this dynamic world of data.
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