How do you report data governance results to different levels?

1 Know your audience

Different levels of stakeholders have different needs and expectations when it comes to data governance reporting. Executives want to see how data governance aligns with the strategic goals and priorities of the organization, such as revenue growth, customer satisfaction, or risk mitigation. Managers want to see how data governance supports their operational and tactical decisions, such as resource allocation, process improvement, or performance evaluation. Data users want to see how data governance enables them to access, analyze, and share data easily and accurately, such as through data catalogs, data quality dashboards, or data literacy programs. Therefore, you need to tailor your data governance reports to suit the interests and perspectives of your audience.

2 Choose the right format

Data governance reports can take various forms, such as presentations, documents, infographics, or videos. The format you choose depends on the purpose, frequency, and audience of your report. For example, you may use a presentation to showcase the achievements and benefits of data governance to executives on a quarterly basis, a document to detail the progress and challenges of data governance to managers on a monthly basis, an infographic to highlight the key facts and figures of data governance to data users on a weekly basis, or a video to demonstrate the best practices and tips of data governance to data users on an ad hoc basis. The format you choose should be clear, concise, and engaging.

3 Use the right metrics

Data governance metrics are the indicators that measure the performance and outcomes of data governance activities and initiatives. They help you track and evaluate the effectiveness and value of data governance for your organization. The metrics you use should be relevant, meaningful, and actionable for your audience. For example, you may use metrics such as data quality score, data availability rate, data usage frequency, or data compliance rate to show how data governance improves the quality, availability, usage, and compliance of data across the organization. You may also use metrics such as cost savings, revenue generation, customer retention, or risk reduction to show how data governance contributes to the strategic objectives and bottom line of the organization.

4 Tell a story

Data governance reports should not be just a collection of data and numbers. They should tell a story that connects the data governance activities and results to the business context and value. A story can help you explain the why, what, how, and so what of data governance to your audience. For example, you can use a story to illustrate how data governance helped solve a specific business problem, achieve a specific business goal, or deliver a specific business benefit. A story can also help you highlight the successes and challenges of data governance, as well as the lessons learned and recommendations for improvement.

5 Seek feedback

Data governance reporting is not a one-way communication. It is an opportunity to engage with your stakeholders and solicit their feedback and input. Feedback can help you understand the needs and expectations of your audience, as well as their satisfaction and concerns with data governance. Feedback can also help you identify the gaps and opportunities for data governance improvement and innovation. Therefore, you should seek feedback from your stakeholders regularly and systematically, such as through surveys, interviews, focus groups, or workshops. You should also act on the feedback and show how you have incorporated it into your data governance strategy and action plan.

Data governance reporting is a critical component of data governance maturity and success. It helps you demonstrate the value and impact of data governance to different levels of stakeholders, as well as build trust and support for data governance across the organization. By following these tips, you can report data governance results effectively and efficiently.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?