Driven by Data | The Newsletter, Edition 59

How is it May already? ??

We are thrilled to share our latest news with you from last week in this edition of the newsletter.

Stay tuned and catch up below ????

Driven by Data | The Podcast

In Episode 26, of Season 4, of Driven By Data: The Podcast , Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Michelle Gansle , Chief Data, Analytics & AI Officer at 麦当劳 . They discuss why, as one of the world's biggest brands, they still have a commitment to change and innovation and how Data & Analytics fuels that. The conversation includes topics such as 3 fun facts that people might not know about 麦当劳 , the data and analytics goals of 麦当劳 , and the size and scale of the D&A capability at 麦当劳 , amongst many other topics. Listen to the full episode here:

Orbition Group at Digital Transformation EXPO Manchester (DTX)

Join us at the largest enterprise IT and technology event in the North.

On the 22 – 23 May 2024, industry tech leaders from all over will take to the stage offering insights on how they plan to leverage future technology to drive the digital agenda forward. Get ready to join the conversation during exclusive panels, workshops, technical deep dives and community meet-ups.

Orbition Group is delighted to be bringing our Driven by Data events back to Manchester and we hope you can join us!

Kyle Winterbottom has moderated/spoken at several DTX events over the last few years and he will be moderating several sessions at the DTX Manchester event in May, and we’ve organised a Driven by Data meetup for our Northern community to take place on the Data & AI stage, on 22nd May from 4:00 pm-5:30 pm.

There will be several panel discussions, workshops, fireside chats and more! Find out more and book your space here:

Catch up: LinkedIn LIVE Discussion on Data Culture Transformation in 2024

Last week's LinkedIn Live event, hosted by Kyle Winterbottom , went down a treat! The panel discussion on data culture transformation was truly fascinating, and the insights shared by Cali Wood , Hannah Davies , Sandra Oudshoff , and Josh Cunningham were nothing short of amazing. If you missed out on this incredible event, you can still catch up with the discussion by clicking the link below. And don't worry, we will have more exciting events soon that you won't want to miss. Be sure to stay tuned for our upcoming LinkedIn Live events, and join us as we explore the latest trends and insights in the world of data & analytics!

The Driven by Data Mentorship

Just one month to go until we close application submissions for our mentorship programme! Get your applications in and provide insight and connect with the world's best data analytics leaders. This programme seeks to serve those on their career path from senior manager and upwards. Our goal is to offer unparalleled development opportunities to the brightest minds who are already working within the Data & Analytics industry, and who have the potential to be the future leaders, in every sense, of our community. Get your entry in now to be considered for our upcoming June cohort:

Orbition Group at CDO Europe Exchange

The CDO Europe Exchange is happening in less than two months and we're excited to be a part of this community gathering of senior data leaders. This event will drive discussions on data-driven business growth and feature a variety of interactive formats to tackle the biggest data challenges. These will include presentations, think tanks, storytelling workshops, a barometer debate, and even a live onsite podcast recording with Kyle Winterbottom and Dr. Tim Wiegels ! You can register your interest here:

Is decentralising Data & Analytics teams the way forward??

This week's insight blog is brought to you by Sophie Muscat

Data & Analytics teams can be centralised or decentralised within an organisation. The functioning framework of D&A teams is frequently discussed and the trends of what seems to work best tend to be cyclical. Lately, many organisations have found that the centralisation of D&A teams has been a central discussion point of focus due to its effect on performance. The reshaping of D&A teams and the effect they're having on the framework and approaches can dictate what the future may be like for the company's data output.

If an organisation opts for a decentralised approach, it is expected that CDO roles will slowly scatter. It is thought that traditional centralised frameworks can slow things down and thus be less efficient when reacting to quickly changing data requirements and technological updates. Some may argue that a decentralisation shake-up may streamline the process enabling quicker decision-making and remodelling to changing environments.

Building a smaller and more dedicated D&A team into a particular section of an organisation could allow a tighter relationship to form between the data experts and the business sector. Through this more specific and personalised action can be taken when putting data and analytics into play and help coordinate with the project ongoing at that time. Naturally, a team requires a leader. This leader, when placed in the specific team within a particular sector of the business will have the knowledge and functionality of the specialised requirements of that particular sector, as well as any challenges that that sector may be facing. At the end of the day, everyone wants the same outcome, good trustworthy data to make data-informed decisions that help the business. This approach is better than a "one size fits all" approach, and organisations need to decide which approach works best for them.

Decentralisation can promote a data ownership mindset across the various sectors of the business instead of consolidating it within a sole entity. This distribution and sharing of the role can aid in accountability and ownership and push employees to actively welcome involvement in data-driven projects. However, it's essential to acknowledge that decentralisation also comes with its challenges. For instance, coordinating and aligning multiple decentralised teams may lead to inconsistencies in data practices and standards across the organisation. Additionally, decentralisation can potentially increase the complexity of data governance and oversight, requiring robust mechanisms to ensure data quality and compliance.

Furthermore, centralised frameworks with a single CDO have the potential to lead to a single point of failure. It is as though the CDO is the centre point for all things ingoing and outgoing that are data-related. If the centre point is missing, then the data flow stops. Having only one person assigned to all things data and analytics is considered to be somewhat risky. Decentralisation distributes knowledge and accountability across the organisation, lessening dependence on just one employee.

On the other hand, some organisations may choose to keep all their data and analytics work in one centralised team. This might be because they think it's easier to manage everything in one place, or because they've always done it that way. It could also be that some organisations are starting to set specific financial goals for their Chief Data Officers and these goals are linked to how successful the company may be and how profitable its ventures may be.

Companies are increasingly setting financial targets for their data initiatives. This means they're using data to figure out how to make more money or grow their business. By setting these financial goals, they're making sure that all the work they put into gathering and analysing data is actually helping them reach their goals, like making more profit or growing in size. It's a way for them to make sure their data efforts are really making a difference in their bottom line and overall success.

The shift from centralised to decentralised and vice versa in the Data & Analytics teams marks a significant shift in how organisations use data to make data-informed decisions and meet objectives. Of course, both approaches have their benefits and challenges. Having teams dedicated to generating data is not just a good idea, but critical for success. Leaning into these changes and using data as a vital resource will be essential for organisations wanting to be successful.And of course, the data joke of the week:

What did the data say when it was drowning?

Help! I'm syncing!??

See you next week! ??

Team Orbition