What can I do to improve my organization’s data governance?

Each year, Gartner surveys hundreds of finance leaders to understand their critical focus areas for the year ahead. Talent, cost management and technology topped CFOs’ list of priorities for 2025.

In the Q1 edition of The CFO Report, we provide three related strategies that can help you address the top finance challenges of the year. In this addition of the CFO Report Newsletter, we will address how you can improve data governance to enable effective AI use.

The evolution of new technology and the fast-expanding volume of data present new possibilities for organizations that can pivot quickly to make use of them. Your CFO peers are asking Gartner:

What steps can I take to improve my organization’s data governance?

As CFOs experiment with and explore the impact of AI, they know that poor data governance limits the potential returns of their AI investments, with over one-third of CFOs reporting that poor data quality inhibits AI adoption. But the solution isn’t simply more rigorous data governance.?

Instead, CFOs should pursue a more adaptive, agile approach to data governance. This method enables AI efforts to thrive, unlike the rigid, centralized command-and-control data governance approach that most organizations have historically taken.

Invest in adaptive data governance to lay the groundwork for effective AI use

CFOs can make a significant impact on the enterprise’s approach to data governance because more of them are taking on responsibility for business data and analytics, whether of their own initiative or as a mandate from their CEO. In fact, nearly 75% of CFOs either own or co-own enterprise data and analytics. There are three main ways CFOs can champion an adaptive data governance approach:

This is just one example of how Gartner is addressing the top challenges faced by CFOs this quarter. For more insights into the key challenges for Q1 2025, download the CFO report.

Take action with Gartner support:

• Mature your data management and reporting capabilities by reading the 3 Fundamentals for Effective D&A Governance for CFOs
• Schedule a call with a Gartner expert to develop a plan for assessing competency gaps among your managers.
• Attend a Gartner expert event to hear How CFOs Can Drive Effective D&A Governance