Too often, I hear the question, “Can you help me with a data strategy?” Unfortunately, for most, this is the wrong request. A more useful request is, “Can you help me apply data strategically?” A better phrasing might be, “Can you help me apply data strategically in support of strategy – despite our mountain of data debt?”  

This program will lead you through an AI-supplemented activity to identify the weakest link in your data chain. Each link becomes the focus of applied data governance activities. This process (based on the theory of constraints) is focused on eliminating that aspect of data debt, identified as the weakest link in your data chain. Subsequent data strategy cycles systematically eliminate data debt and build momentum, improving:  

• Your organization’s data  
• The way your people use data  
• The way your people use data to achieve your organizational strategy  

With practice, this interdependence between strategy and governance improves, with “lather, rinse, and repeat” cycles. Several complementary concepts that are covered include:  

• A cohesive argument for why data strategy is necessary for effective data governance  
• An overview of prerequisites for effective strategic use of data strategy, as well as common pitfalls  
• A repeatable process for identifying and removing data constraints  
• The importance of balancing business operation and innovation 

Peter Aiken 
Professor of Information Systems, VCU and Founder, Anything Awesome 

Peter Aiken, Ph.D. is an acknowledged Data Management authority, an associate professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, president of DAMA International, and associate director of the MIT International Society of Chief Data Officers. For more than 40 years, Peter has learned from working with hundreds of Data Management practices in more than 30 countries.  

Among his 13 books are the first on making the case for data leadership (CDOs), the first focusing on data monetization and modern strategic data thinking, and the first to objectively specify what it means to be data-literate. International recognition has resulted from these and a (pre-Covid-19) intensive worldwide events schedule. Peter also hosts the longest-running Data Management webinar series on dataversity.net. Before Google, before data was big, and before Data Science, Peter founded several organizations that have helped more than 200 businesses leverage data – specific savings have been measured at more than $1.5 billion. His latest venture is Anything Awesome.