The Role That Empathy Plays in Designing Data Governance Programs - Panel

Data Governance programs typically focus on the elements of the work required to implement data management policies, practices, and standards including disciplines of metadata, data quality, data security, data ethics, and so on. Data Governance programs typically recite the frameworks through presentations and workshops, with little attention paid to how stakeholders will apply the new knowledge in the data management operations.

Data Governance managers deliver the program and report completion; then when they circle back to the business team, say three months later, they ask whether there has been any measurable improvement? A typical response would be that stakeholders have been too busy to apply what they have learned or they may say that other work has taken priority or more than likely they will say that they don’t have sufficient resources to prioritize the data governance program. Does this sound familiar?

Clearly, there is something missing, but what is it? On the surface, Data Governance has failed to deliver on its promise, or at the very minimum, it has failed to make any lasting impact on the stakeholders they are meant to serve. These situations are more common and widespread than we care to admit.

As leaders in Data Governance, we need to do a deep dive to discover the root causes of why Data Governance fails to meet the promise. We need to do more, much more to understand the challenges. My experience is that data governance programs typically fail when they do not pay adequate attention to the human factors in the implementation of the change.

Data Governance managers need to actively recognize the subtle behavioral cues, to systematically identify the challenges, risks, fears, and insecurities that surfaced through the implementation of data governance. Leaders need to use empathic techniques to establish an emotional connection with the community of stakeholders they are serving. Practitioners need to understand the real problems and challenges that are relevant to stakeholders, then proceed to assist them through solving real problems through the discovery of knowledge, and openly sharing it. Leaders need to actively communicate with their stakeholder Community.

Empathy is the key to success. Creating and sustaining empathetic relationships is a fundamental pre-requisite; We should be putting people first. Our community does not talk enough about the role of Empathic relationships. Our panel discussion will explore the role that empathy plays in delivering better data governance outcomes. 

Speakers: Andrew Andrews, Danette McGilvray, Laura Sebastian-Coleman

Andrew Andrews

DAMA Australia

Danette McGilvray

An internationally respected expert, Danette McGilvray is known for her Ten Steps™ approach, used by multiple industries as a proven method for increasing the value of data through quality and governance. It applies to operational processes and also to focused initiatives such as security, analytics, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, data science, and compliance. Danette guides leaders and staff as they connect business strategy to practical steps for implementation. As president and principal of Granite Falls Consulting, Inc., Danette is committed to the appropriate and effective use of technology and also to addressing the human aspect of data management through communication, change management, and engaging with people. Danette is the author of Executing Data Quality Projects: Ten Steps to Quality Data and Trusted Information™, 2nd Ed. (Elsevier/Academic Press, 2021). The first edition (2008) is often described as a “classic” or noted as one of the “top ten” data management books.

Laura Sebastian-Coleman

Laura Sebastian-Coleman, Ph.D., Data Quality Director at Prudential, has worked in data quality management since 2003. She has implemented data quality metrics and reporting, launched and facilitated data quality working groups, contributed to data consumer training programs, and led efforts to establish data standards and to manage metadata in support of data governance goals. Author of Navigating the Labyrinth (2018) and Measuring Data Quality for Ongoing Improvement (2013), her latest book, Meeting the Challenges of Data Quality Management, was published in February 2022. Laura was production editor for the DAMA-DMBOK2, for which she received DAMA’s award for Contributions to the Data Management Profession (2018).