Why do so many Data Governance programs fail?

According to a study by Gartner, as many as 80% of organisations will fail to achieve their desired business outcomes when trying to deliver effective Data Governance across their business. The only way to turn these numbers around is by focusing on cultural change within the organisation and managing stakeholder engagement (and stakeholder expectations).

A similar report by Forrester Research found that 40% of Data Governance programs simply fail to meet their objectives.

So, why do these programs fail?

There are a few reasons:

1. Lack of Clear Objectives: Many initiatives fail because organisations simply don't have a good understanding of what they want to achieve. This leads to poorly defined goals and a lack of measurable outcomes. Sometimes it also leads to confusion of what Data Governance actually is - the last thing you want is for leaders within your organisation to say "we already have it" when you know they don't... it's your job to take them on the journey.
2. Poor Stakeholder Engagement: You need buy-in from all levels within your organisation (not just the big wigs). Without it, any type of resistance from any stakeholder has the potential to derail your program. You want everyone to be engaged from day 1, in fact - before that - you want them to be part of the planning.
3. Insufficient Resources: Not just cash, but time. When you first start out, you will most likely underestimate your time, budget and skills within your team, this will lead to shortfall - so make sure you do your due diligence and work with the resources you have - don't bank on getting more money - let's face it - asking for money for stuff is hard, let alone asking for money for stuff that people don't really understand - that's much harder.
4. Culture: Implementing Data Governance is going to require a cultural shift - you don't want people to think their autonomy is being challenged, and you don't want people to think you are implementing more red tape - take them on the journey, help drive a cultural change.
5. Too much focus on the Technology: While Technology is important, focussing too much on tools and software while neglecting the people and process components is a very common mistake - remember your PPT Framework - People, Process, Technology - with Data Governance right in the middle of that pretty triangle :P
6. No Leadership Support: Without consistent support from leadership, your program is most likely going to lose momentum, and it will fail to be prioritised.
7. Complexity and Scope Creep: Overly complex frameworks or scope creep without proper planning is going to lead to confusion and a lack of focus - do whatever you can to mitigate this.

I've been saying this for years, Data Governance needs to be flexible. It needs to work with the technology you already have, and it needs to integrate with your organisation as seamless as possible. You shouldn't try to change your business to fit a data governance framework -- instead, you should be adapting your approach to data governance to fit your organisation and its specific use cases.

Non-Invasive Data Governance has entered the chat...

Given these challenges, it is clear that a different approach is needed. This is where Non-Invasive Data Governance shines.

Robert S. Seiner has written a brilliant article about something he has spent his career building: Non-Invasive Data Governance - The Most Practical and Pragmatic Approach | LinkedIn

So, what is it?

Rather than disrupting established processes, it works with your current framework and compliments what you have allowing you to build on your existing workflows, metadata structures and accountability/ownership models. What this means is you end up with less resistance across your organisation because there isn't something 'new' for people to get angry at, it reduces implementation costs and accelerates your return on your investment meaning you can start to show value for the money spent on uplifting your data governance work. Put simply, non-invasive Data Governance is a more practical and scalable solution.

Non-Invasive Data Governance fosters a culture of collaboration by involving all relevant stakeholders from the outset. It promotes open communication and a shared understanding of data across the organisation, ensuring that governance is not just a top-down directive but a collective effort.

One of Non-Invasive Data Governance's greatest strengths is its adaptability. It’s flexible enough to evolve with your business needs, accommodating new technologies, data sources, and compliance requirements without causing major disruptions. This ensures that your Data Governance strategy remains relevant and effective as your organisation grows and changes.

If you do it right, people won't even know it's there. As I've said before, it should be seamless.

5 Actions to Make Your Data Governance Seamless and Non-Invasive:

1. Leverage Existing Workflows and Tools: Start by integrating governance practices into your current workflows and tools. This minimizes disruption and makes adoption easier, as employees continue using familiar processes.
2. Focus on Quick Wins: Identify areas where small, incremental changes can have a big impact. Early successes build momentum and demonstrate the value of Data Governance to the organization.
3. Engage Stakeholders Early and Often: Involve stakeholders from all relevant departments right from the beginning. Regular check-ins and feedback loops ensure that governance practices are aligned with business needs and that everyone is on board.
4. Adapt Governance to Fit Business Needs: Rather than enforcing rigid frameworks, tailor your Data Governance approach to the specific needs of your organization. This flexibility ensures that governance practices enhance, rather than hinder, business operations.
5. Promote a Culture of Collaboration: Encourage cross-functional teams to work together on Data Governance initiatives. This fosters a shared sense of ownership and helps break down silos, making governance a collective responsibility.

For Data Governance to be effective, it needs to scale. We should start small, focus on the quick wins, and then build momentum. This approach not only ensures early successes but also helps in gradually embedding governance practices into the organisational culture, leading to long-term sustainability and success.

Ready to transform your Data Governance strategy? Start with these actionable steps and see how Non-Invasive Data Governance can make a difference. As always, if you want to chat more about this please feel free to reach out.

You can read more about Robert S. Seiner 's Non-Invasive Data Governance approach here: LinkedIn (Non-Invasive Data Governance - The Most Practical and Pragmatic Approach)