Accurate data is essential to support a Digital Transformation (DX) project. It does no good to create ultimately efficient processes supported by huge IT investments if you still focus effort on the wrong things. For example, an efficient, paperless procurement process will help you buy, stock, and pay for goods very efficiently with a minimum of time and effort by staff. But if you still buy the wrong things, or buy unnecessary things due to inefficient categorization, specs or other information, the whole process breaks.
Regulations controlling the legal use of data such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and other new rules and regulations have opened executives’ eyes to data governance challenges and the potential penalties of not following the rules. The emphasis on regulations and security is well warranted.
Over my career, I have maintained that the only thing worse than no information is bad information. Decisions can only be made at a specific moment, with the data that is available at that time. When we make decisions based on available data, we make some assumptions about the validity of it. It’s obvious, but more timely and accurate information builds a foundation for sound decisions. Effective Data Governance gives executives a strong foundation for creating a competitive advantage, analyzing market opportunities, and identifying waste.
Now we are being tested with another problem caused by the COVID-19 virus. With more staff working remotely, effective data governance is becoming even more critical, and I believe more remote work will become the norm. Recently I saw a single panel cartoon where an executive was sitting at his home desk. The caption read something like “Holy cow… I really could have done all those meetings by phone or email.” As a remote workforce becomes the norm, compliance, and data security while already important, will become even more integral. Global regulations are creating more complexity and cause for concern.
Without on-site monitoring and direction, regulatory compliance and data privacy requirements in the post-COVID-19 era will become much more critical.
Regulatory compliance, data security, and privacy protection are interrelated, critical functions of Data Governance. Overwhelming amounts of data combined with constantly changing regulatory and compliance landscape makes fostering and maintaining clean, accurate data a challenge. Keeping off-site or remote workforce on-task requires constraints and communication that most program management platforms available today do not adequately support.
AMIGO does offer the assurances, both in a robust organizational aspect, as well as secure, cloud functionality that is unrivaled within the DX industry. As data governance moves up the C-Suite agenda, and cascade out into business units, executives leading these efforts will move from being overseers of a “support function” to take on a central role in organizational strategy. Program or Project Leadership can keep initiatives on-track, on-budget, and see the benefits realization in the original business case, as it should be.
Real Digital Transformation doesn’t happen overnight, and most are still, unfortunately, never realized in full. The notion of data as an asset has grown into a critical must-have for organizations to survive, grow, and thrive in the coming years. Data Governance programs that incorporate essential elements of data gathering, ubiquitous availability, accuracy, and appropriate, controlled access provide the foundation of compliance and security. AMIGO can support for the much-needed forward momentum as this pandemic forces a new way of thinking about work in general, IT engagement, and especially how we manage and run programs.
