How do you define data stewardship roles and responsibilities in your organization?

First assign data owners who are accountable for data accuracy, relevance, and usage policies. Data custodians focus on data storage, security, and maintenance, while data users and consumers leverage data responsibly within set guidelines. Implement a data governance framework to set the foundation for data stewardship, processes and standards across roles. This framework ensures data accessibility, quality, and compliance, alignment with organizational goals. Emphasize on the benefits: structured data stewardship improves decision-making, boosts compliance, and reduces risks. Embrace modern practices like automated monitoring, transparent data lineage, ethical data use- to help the team manage data as a valuable organizational asset.

The challenge is no one in the business wants to take full accountability if the data is not right since this would require additional time to maintain etc… They would be happy to own in providing guidances as to how to use the data but in case of issues caused by data no one wants to take full responsibility and they would usually push this role (wrongly) to operations who won’t necessarily always understand what the data is used for and how it should be controlled etc

As a seasoned data strategist, I've seen the critical role of data owners in defining data stewardship roles and responsibilities. Data owners, typically business leaders or department heads, are accountable for ensuring data quality, accuracy, and compliance. They work closely with data stewards, data architects, and analysts to define clear roles and responsibilities. Data stewards often oversee data quality, consistency, and metadata management. Data architects design data models and infrastructure, while data analysts handle data analysis and reporting. By establishing a clear division of responsibilities, organizations can ensure data integrity, governance, and effective utilization.

In every business, there are leaders called Data Owners.They are the ones in charge of data in their area. 📍 Data Owners make key decisions on how data should be used to meet business goals. 📍 They set the rules for handling data and approve policies to keep data secure and organized. 📍 They also pick team members like data custodians and users to manage and use the data responsibly. By doing all this, Data Owners make sure the data stays accurate, useful, and meets the company’s needs.

What I have done in large enterprises is to split the role of data accountability into two parts. 1. Data Owners - This is one person who is fully accountable for the data in a particular domain. Depending on the enterprise there would be many domains. This person sets the strategy, makes final decision on access, usage, etc. Usually these are Sr. or executive leaders in the organization. Data Stewards - These are the day to day people who work with the data owners. They influence the decisions about direction, strategy, access, usage, etc. They are also the subject matter experts. They are usually hands on senior folks in the organization. There would be more than one data steward for each domain. Hope this helps. Feedback appreciated

I see data custodians as the guardians of a treasure. In my "DataGuard" method, they are the heroes entrusted with protecting our most valuable treasure: the data. They enforce the rules set by data owners, oversee the infrastructure and tools, and ensure the security and integrity of the data. Like loyal guardians, they also assist users in their quest for insights, while keeping an eye out for any data-related issues that might arise. DataGuard is the key to an impregnable and well-governed data fortress. Regularly, they hold an operational committee to address key topics related to their mission.

Data custodians is critical in managing and protecting data assets by focusing on the following items: a. Proper Data Quality Management b. Correct Access Control c. Encryption of the data d. Data Backups e. Audits and continuous improvement

Data Custodians are the technical team members who take care of data day-to-day. They follow the rules set by Data Owners to keep data safe and organized. 📍 Data Custodians look after the systems and tools that store and manage data, making sure it stays secure, private, and accurate. 📍 They also help data users who need access and report any issues or problems with the data. 📍 Their work keeps the data ready and reliable for everyone who needs it.

In defining data stewardship roles, data custodians are responsible for the technical management and safekeeping of data. They implement the policies and guidelines set by data owners, focusing on data storage, backup, security, and access controls. Their responsibilities include maintaining data infrastructure, ensuring data availability, integrity, and confidentiality, and executing data management tasks according to established standards and practices. Clarifying the role of data custodians involves detailing their operational duties and the expectations for maintaining the organization's data in a secure and efficient manner.

Usuários de dados são as pessoas que muitas vezes irão transformar dados em insights e ações que irão gerar valor de fato para o negócio. Muitos frameworks e estruturas atualmente focam em democratização dos dados e os usuários finais são essenciais para que a empresa capture o valor dessa democratização e continue evoluindo na sua jornada de maturidade de dados. Ter permissões, acessos, padrões e documentações claros facilitam para os usuários engajarem e de fato utilizarem esses dados. Fornecer caminhos para trocas de feedbacks e suporte técnico incentivam ainda mais o consumo desses dados da geração de valor.

📍 Data Users are people inside or outside the company who need to use data for their work. 📍They have permission to access, change, or study the data for specific tasks. 📍 Data Users must follow the rules set for using data and handle it responsibly. 📍 They also share feedback and ideas to help improve the quality and usefulness of the data.

Defining data stewardship roles for data users involves specifying their rights and responsibilities in accessing and using data within the organization. Data users are individuals or teams that analyze, interpret, or otherwise utilize data in their daily operations. Their responsibilities include adhering to data access policies, maintaining data confidentiality, and ensuring data is used ethically and in compliance with legal and organizational standards. It's crucial to outline proper data handling practices, reporting requirements, and the importance of data quality and integrity in their work, ensuring responsible and effective use of data assets.

Data users are more often than not business-oriented users who need to extract value from the data. The best value from data is often realised where data users partner with data stewards (and more technical data teams) to take on business challenges. The servicing model to data users, in particular, how data is shared and access is critical in a GDPR-age.

Data consumers decide in the end if data is trustworthy or not. They are not only the ones who need to discover and understand data through the right metadata such as data dictionary or data lineage, they also need to access the right channels and processes to provide feedback or ask for changes in the data. Data is only valuable if it’s being used, and having a strong collaboration and trust with data consumers is key.

In my view, data consumers play a crucial role in any data-driven organization, and, of course, they can't benefit from data without a certain minimum level of data literacy. Yet, in my opinion, it's one of the most important tasks for all the other data roles within the organization to recognize their responsibility to enable the data consumer in a data democracy. They need to ensure that data is not just available but also accessible in the most user-friendly way for data consumers. It's not just about having the data; it's about making it genuinely usable for those who rely on it to make informed decisions. In a data democracy, the empowerment of data consumers to engage in data-driven decision-making is what truly creates value.

Excellent article. La matrice RACI de la data ! Je me.permets une suggestion. Je vois deux rôles de plus : - le référent consommateur qui est un super utilisateur et relais des bonnes pratiques et des remontées du terrain. - le régulateur, qui.peut être le DPO, et qui joue un rôle spécifique différents des équipes techniques.

Defining data stewardship roles for data consumers involves outlining their entitlements and duties in utilizing data for decision-making, insights, or operational purposes. Data consumers, often end-users of data analytics and reports, are tasked with interpreting data accurately and applying insights responsibly within their roles. Their responsibilities include using data in a manner that aligns with organizational policies, respecting data privacy and security guidelines, and providing feedback on data quality and relevance. Clearly establishing these roles ensures data consumers contribute positively to the data-driven culture, leveraging data assets effectively and ethically.

It can take years to fully develop the governance framework that is right for an organisation, matched to its maturity and the capabilities it has in place. Over time you can build out the layers of governance you require to make roles and responsibilities clearer. Governance shouldn’t be a focus on any one topic, but should be a blend of several factors.

Data Governance framework is not one size fits all. There are standards published by McKinsey, Oracle, IBM, etc. You need to customize these standards for each enterprise based on culture, leadership, people, etc. Otherwise, it will be just an academic framework. I have customized frameworks for many large enterprises and this has provided huge impact. Hope this helps. Feedback appreciated.

Be pragmatic - not perfect in the first place Creating a Data Governance Framework should be an iterative and pragmatic process, tailored to fit your organization’s Data Strategy. Start small with clearly defined roles and responsibilities, focusing on critical data assets. This approach allows for quick wins, fosters trust, and aligns with broader Data Democracy principles. The framework must evolve with your organization, supporting both centralized governance and decentralized Data Literacy efforts. It’s not just about control—it's about enabling informed decision-making across the enterprise.

There are many data governance frameworks in the industry currently. Each has its merits and weaknesses. What I have done is to customize the best practices from these frameworks to the enterprise eco system. This includes clearly defining the KPIs of Data Governance and connecting it to the Business KPIs and culture of the organization, look at data governance as a continuous improvement initiative and define clear and SMART yearly KPIs that are tracked and socialized.

Defining data stewardship roles within data governance involves establishing a framework that outlines the hierarchy of responsibility for managing the organization's data assets. This framework includes roles such as data owners, who set policies for data usage; data custodians, who manage and secure data; data users and consumers, who analyze and apply data; and a data governance board, which oversees data policies, compliance, and strategy. Responsibilities are assigned to ensure data integrity, quality, privacy, and security across all levels, facilitating a culture of responsible data management and utilization aligned with organizational goals.

Business data stewardship is fundamental to the success of a data strategy. Successful data strategy must encompass business, organizational, and technical capabilities. Data stewardship is a key business and organizational capability without which the technical implementation of any data capability, be it master data management, data quality or metadata management, would not bring value to the company.

Data Steward is a critical role. This is a part time role. The expertise required to be successful or effective in this role includes company / enterprise knowledge, industry knowledge, technical knowledge as well as ability to communicate across the spectrum of roles. Data Stewards can really make a difference in terms of driving a data driven culture for the organization. This is all based on my experience recruiting, training and instituting data stewards in big enterprises.

Effective Data Stewardship drives tangible benefits across the organization. It not only ensures data quality and compliance but also empowers users at all levels to leverage data confidently, fostering a culture of data-driven decision-making. By integrating stewardship with data democracy and literacy initiatives, organizations can unlock the full potential of their data assets, improving efficiency, reducing risks, and enhancing innovation. This holistic approach ultimately leads to a more agile and competitive organization.

Another important consideration in these relationships is the concept of “golden source” data. This is vital in knowing how data was created and where it originated. After this, as data is passed around an organisation, where it will likely be consumed, changed or manipulated in some way, you can always track back to the original source. This means that if the data changes on its journey around (or outside) of your organisation, you can be confident in quickly finding out where and why it changed.

One thing I look for in data steward is not just the industry and functional experience but also experience within the company. This is extremely important for the data steward to be successful.

In defining roles and responsibilities for data stewardship in our organization, we start by identifying key stakeholders across departments who interact with data. Each stakeholder's role is then delineated based on their involvement in data collection, processing, analysis, and decision-making processes. Clear responsibilities are assigned to ensure data accuracy, security, and compliance with regulations. Regular communication and collaboration among data stewards and stakeholders help maintain alignment with organizational goals and data governance policies. Additionally, we provide ongoing training and support to empower data stewards in fulfilling their duties effectively.

It's futile having a data stewardship role if there isn't a specific D&A structure to servicing in the business. Data Stewards often rely on technical data teams to enable and support. Data Stewardship as a functional role if often misused, and not well understood. Misalignment will hinder any true business value stewardship can unlock.