3 must-have roles for a high-performing data governance team

In today’s data-driven world, organizations are increasingly recognizing the importance of effective data governance. Proper data governance ensures that your data is accurate, secure, and used responsibly, ultimately leading to better decision-making and operational efficiency. However, achieving these goals requires a well-structured team with clearly defined roles. In this blog post, we’ll explore the three must-have roles for a high-performing data governance team, and how each role contributes to the success of your data governance initiatives.

1. Data governance

The data governance lead, often titled the Chief Data Officer (CDO) or Data Governance Manager, is the anchor of your data governance team. This role should have a direct line to senior leadership, insight into long-term business goals, and an understanding of how other data roles interact with each other. As a result, you can create a streamlined data governance strategy that aligns with your organization's objectives.

Key responsibilities:

• Strategic oversight: The data governance lead sets the vision and strategy for data governance. This includes defining your policies, standards, and procedures for managing your data effectively.
• Stakeholder engagement: This role acts as a bridge between various stakeholders, including your executive leadership, IT teams, and business units. Ensuring that your data governance policies are understood and adhered to across your organization is crucial.
• Program management: This role involves managing your data governance program’s implementation, tracking your progress, and making necessary adjustments to ensure it meets your goals.
• Compliance and risk management: Ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and managing risks associated with data breaches or non-compliance is a significant part of this role.

2. Data stewards

Data stewards are responsible for the day-to-day management and quality of data. They often help with training on best practices, building out your data handling policies, and enforcing those practices and policies. This role also uses hands-on experience to inform the data governance lead to any project roadblocks or larger management concerns.

Key responsibilities:

• Data quality management: Data stewards are responsible for maintaining data quality by implementing data validation rules, cleansing data, and managing your data correction processes.
• Data access and security: Data stewards ensure that your data access controls are in place and that your data is secured against unauthorized access. They manage permissions and ensure compliance with your data privacy regulations.
• Data documentation: Maintaining comprehensive documentation about your data assets, including data dictionaries and data lineage reports, is a crucial responsibility. This documentation supports data transparency and helps users understand and utilize your data effectively.

3. Data analysts

Data analysts play a critical role in interpreting data and generating insights that drive business decisions. They transform raw data into actionable information, making it easier for your organization to leverage its data assets effectively.

Key responsibilities:

• Data analysis and reporting: Data analysts use various analytical tools and techniques to analyze data and create reports. These reports help in understanding trends, patterns, and anomalies within your data.
• Data visualization: They create visualizations that make complex data more accessible and understandable. Effective data visualization supports better decision-making by presenting your data in a clear and actionable format.
• Insight generation: By interpreting data and identifying key trends, data analysts provide you with actionable insights that inform strategic decisions. Their analyses can reveal opportunities for improvement and highlight areas of concern.
• Collaboration: Data analysts often work closely with other departments to understand your data needs and provide tailored insights that address your specific business challenges.

Building your robust data governance framework

Building a high-performing data governance team requires more than just hiring skilled individuals; it involves defining clear roles and responsibilities that align with your organization's data governance objectives. Each of these roles plays a pivotal part in ensuring that your data is high quality, actionable, and adheres to regulatory compliance.

Data volumes continue to grow, making data management more complex and time-consuming than ever before. With Experian’s Aperture Data Studio, your business is empowered to build a robust data governance framework, designed to support your specific business goals.

If you have questions about data governance, building your governance strategy, or want to learn more about data management solutions, contact an expert at Experian Data Quality today.