How can you improve your skills as a data steward or data owner?

Most data stewards come from business areas, not from IT. This is so the data stewards understand the data and the processes that create and use the data in their domain. Understanding the data's definitions (meaning), its usages, its format, and its location(s) can help identify the data to use for an operation or a decision - correctly.

In My experience as a data owner I always try to see the story and bigger picture of the data I deal with. For example : for a chemical manufacturing company if dangerous indicator good field is not marked then down the line factory workers might miss to take special provisions needed for storing and transportation of “dangerous goods” . These special provisions can be storage conditions, approval documentation, certification etc. Poor data quality can cause business operation delays and disruptions. Data is greatest asset to any company , data can predict future and help enterprises in improving efficiency and reducing operational costs.

Its crucial to understand the usage of each and every data element in the specific data domain, understand what is the business impact of different values (if there are specific defined sets, including blanks), which are the most important ones.. More often that not, data may be originating from one department but other departments may have their specific elements to add, with corresponding business impact. So, yes, absolutely, understanding your data domain, collaborating across all departments to ensure that the data steward understands the full gamut of that data domain is vital. Then only you would know what needs to be done in terms of validations, rules, automation, workflows.

“You also need to know the business processes, rules, and requirements that affect your data.” I would take this one step further and advise every data steward to take some time to fully understand what their business team is trying to accomplish. Drive more product engagement? Attract more customers? Create a better experience? If you have that context in mind while using and managing data, you will almost certainly improve your role and value as a data steward. You will show a more comprehensive understanding of the role and you will be helping to drive results through the actions you take in caring for critical data assets.

In my point of view, this is a priority because when you mixed Data Technical Skills with Business Processes, you can suggest and understand the data flow, this make all the difference because normally the database was builded by persons without Business view and sometimes It is OK for technical view but not give the proper value required from the Business. But this is not so easily to learn, you have to be open-minded and learn from your or other experiences to combine those both skills. TO starting I do suggest be envolved with some Business area that you like or it is more on your daily routine, you will learn without much effort just focusing more on understand the process behind.

There are a variety of data governance frameworks, and the best of them are vendor-agnostic (not dependent on the use of a specific application). Most good frameworks can be adapted to meet an organization's needs - but do not take away the core/foundational best practices and standards. Doing so will only negate the value of the framework.

This is the way to conduct and guarantee the process in a stablished process by using this age proven Frameworks such as ISO and Cobit, because without this you can be sucessfully but always you will be dependend for Personal's informations

Before evaluating and selecting a data governance application ("tool") know the business and technical requirements the organization has for data governance. Not every tool addresses the functions sufficiently - and some are much harder to use than others. Remember that many of the data governance tool users will be business data stewards - not technical IT staff.

The three pillars of People, Process and then Technology. You can absolutely use data governance tools to help expedite, but that should not come at the cost of ignoring the people and process part of it. Many times you can use very simplistic tools rather than full-blown fancy governance tool sets, if you have a very robust process and people framework.

If your organisation is serious about being "data-driven" or having a "data-driven culture" then a data catalogue is essential. If you don't have a catalogue, how can you find data and find out whom to ask when you want data? (No, you should not rely on asking around!). It can be tricky to implement a data catalogue well, so ensure you select the right one and have a data operating model that the catalogue fits nicely into. Otherwise, you will spend money on the catalogue and won't see the return on investment (ROI).

Without data informations about your data, it's just a try and error way to conduct things, loosing resources (personal and financial) and time.

All those tools have to contribute/facilitate to do a better work, if something went in a different way and you have to do a lot of extra works to get the results, this tools is not helping so maybe it's not necessary to use. But when it works, you have an data ocean to navigate!!

Communication should be a foundational aspect of every data governance framework and program. Starting with identifying the roles and responsibilities, communicating the value of data governance and the activities of the data stewards, and the results of the program (at least monthly) can help advance the awareness of data governance and its usage across the organization. Without strong, consistent, and wide-reaching communication, the program will not gain traction and will not be sustainable

Communication is the most valuable free tool, not properly used or missused. But the focus have to be always thinking to generate value to the other part and adopt the way to the message be 100% understanded, all things no matter if it's basic for you, but maybe it's not for the other person, so always it has to be communicated

Involve the business users in the process. As a data steward, you need to ensure that users feel sufficiently invested in the process to make it useful. Business users provide context. Without that context, the true value of the data and associated insights will never be realized.

Www.datamanagement.wiki is a good source of knowledge. It provides a lot of terms regarding datamanagement, its definition and the relationship between them. It also provides a framework for a data quality management system DQMS and data management system DMS based on ISO's high level structure for management systems.

Every professional should be committed to regular skill development - and data governance professionals and data stewards should improve their skills in data governance and data stewardship regularly. Courses, webinars, reading best practices, participating in conferences, etc., all are valuable activities.

If you choose IT / Data, you have to take in our mind learning/updating have to be constantly and forever, but when you take it as part of you, you be always looking forward to next challenges.

Keeping on top of changing data privacy laws are regulations is critical. The field of data privacy is evolving rapidly, especially with the rise of AI, that laws and regulations in place today may be antiquated in just a few years time.

Talking about your knowledge and experiences, and listen feedback from other people related with Data/IT but also see other persons with other perspectives to understand what other people look as important. It's part of your development and many people be afraid to listen something that they don't want.

Becoming a data steward or data owner isn't merely about scoring the trendiest title in the data sphere (though it's undeniably snazzy). It's about being the valiant protector of your organization's data treasure trove! In a world where data is more coveted than a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, being a data aficionado is akin to wielding a superpower. It's the secret sauce for making sharper decisions, dodging data disasters, and strutting your stuff as the Sherlock Holmes of spreadsheets. So, why bother leveling up? Well, in the realm of data, wisdom isn't just influence; it's the enchanted key to unlocking a realm of opportunities – all while looking exceptionally sharp! ????♂???

In my point of view, you have to always been seeking for the new, innovating, discovering, but you have to understand before starting you will fail, then fail, and fail again. But this will you building your base to the future and the people who do not stop in the middle of process, they will reveice the benefits and the returns of all dedication time invested.