Your data governance policies clash with the business team's needs. How will you find a harmonious solution?

1 Understand Needs

Understanding the business team's needs is the first step in resolving any policy clashes. Engage with them to grasp the challenges they face due to data governance policies. This could involve the speed of data access , the flexibility of data usage , or even the processes for data sharing. By empathizing with their situation, you can identify which aspects of your governance framework are too restrictive and start to consider adjustments that could alleviate their pain points without compromising data integrity or security.

2 Policy Review

A comprehensive review of your current data governance policies is essential. Scrutinize each policy to determine its purpose, effectiveness, and the impact on business operations. Are these policies up-to-date and aligned with current business objectives and technologies? This review should not only focus on identifying bottlenecks but also on ensuring that the policies are still necessary and relevant. In some cases, policies may need to be updated or even retired to better support the business team's activities.

3 Collaborative Approach

Taking a collaborative approach can bridge the gap between governance and business needs. Invite key stakeholders from the business team to participate in discussions about data governance. Their insights will be invaluable in reshaping policies to be more supportive of their work. Collaboration fosters a sense of ownership and understanding among all parties, leading to a balanced governance strategy that protects data while enabling business agility.

4 Incremental Changes

Implementing incremental changes rather than overhauling your data governance policies all at once can lead to smoother transitions and better acceptance. Start with the most pressing issues identified by the business team and address them with targeted modifications to your policies. This step-by-step approach allows you to monitor the impact of changes and make further adjustments as necessary, ensuring that each alteration moves you closer to a harmonious balance.

5 Training and Support

Educating your business team on the importance of data governance and providing ongoing support is crucial. Tailored training sessions that explain the rationale behind governance policies, and how they can work within these guidelines, will demystify the rules and encourage compliance. Moreover, offering support in the form of tools or resources to help them navigate the policies can empower the team to work effectively while still adhering to governance standards.

6 Monitor Results

Finally, monitoring the results of any policy changes is key to ensuring they are having the desired effect. Collect feedback from the business team on how the changes are impacting their work and whether further adjustments are needed. This continuous feedback loop will help you fine-tune your data governance framework to better align with business operations while maintaining data quality and security.

7 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?