How do you work with data governance partners outside your organization?

1 Identify your data governance partners

The first step is to identify who are your data governance partners and what are their roles and responsibilities. Data governance partners are any entities that have a stake or interest in the data that you produce, consume, or exchange. They can be internal or external to your organization, and they can have different levels of authority and influence over the data. For example, some data governance partners may be data owners, who have the ultimate accountability for the data quality and usage. Others may be data stewards, who are responsible for implementing and enforcing the data governance policies and rules. And others may be data consumers, who use the data for various purposes and need to comply with the data governance requirements.

2 Establish data governance agreements

The next step is to establish data governance agreements with your data governance partners. Data governance agreements are formal documents that specify the expectations, obligations, and rights of each party regarding the data. They can cover topics such as data definitions, data quality, data security, data privacy, data access, data sharing, data retention, data audit, and data dispute resolution. Data governance agreements should be clear, consistent, and enforceable, and they should be reviewed and updated regularly to reflect any changes in the data environment or the business needs.

4 Monitor and measure data governance performance

The fourth step is to monitor and measure the data governance performance of both your organization and your data governance partners. Data governance performance is the degree to which the data meets the agreed-upon standards and objectives of the data governance agreements. It can be assessed using various metrics and indicators, such as data accuracy, completeness, timeliness, consistency, security, compliance, and value. Data governance performance should be regularly reported and reviewed by both parties, and any issues or gaps should be identified and resolved promptly.

5 Promote data governance culture and awareness

The final step is to promote a data governance culture and awareness among your organization and your data governance partners. Data governance culture is the set of values, beliefs, and behaviors that support and encourage the adoption and implementation of data governance principles and practices. Data governance awareness is the level of understanding and knowledge of the data governance goals, benefits, and responsibilities. To foster a data governance culture and awareness, you can use various strategies, such as data governance training, data governance communication, data governance recognition, and data governance feedback.

Working with data governance partners outside your organization can be challenging, but also rewarding. By following these best practices and tips, you can build trust, alignment, and value with your data governance partners and leverage the power of data for your mutual success.

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?