Lately, I’ve been writing about the importance of connecting technology to values and emotions. But I may be glossing over an important point. It’s impossible to create that high-level, human-centered impact without getting into the weeds.

Data is the foundation for every technological initiative. Good data governance is essential for successful digital outcomes. Data that accurately reflects your members and their preferences is the key to trust, engagement, and enduring relationships.

As more associations look to integrate AI across their platforms, data integrity is increasingly an area for scrutiny and concern.

Review Systematically

How do you evaluate whether your organization’s data is pristine, polluted, or somewhere in the murky in-between? Assessing the status of your data involves reviewing activity across several areas of competence. If any of the following issues sound familiar, it may be time for an intervention.     

Quality

  • Inconsistent input–Different formats are used across systems
  • Incomplete information—There are missing values
  • Inaccurate entries—There are errors, typos, or outdated information
  • Duplicates—There are redundant records

Sharing

  • Silos—Data is trapped in isolated platforms, hindering overarching analysis  
  • Limited access—Not everyone can access their data
  • Difficulty sharing—There are challenges collaborating across departments

Management and Lifecycle

  • Proliferation—There are no guidelines for collection
  • Retention issues—There are ineffective policies regarding retention
  • Archival and retrieval—Historical data is difficult to access

Governance

  • Lack of ownership—The responsibilities for data management are unclear
  • Insufficient resources—The budget and personnel for data governance are not adequate
  • Resistance to change—Staff are resistant to new data governance processes

Security and Privacy

  • Breaches—Unauthorized access to sensitive information has occurred
  • Non-compliance—Data protection regulations are not followed
  • Misuse–Data is being used for unauthorized purposes

All these issues are significant, but some put your organization at risk of severe consequences. If you have experienced breaches in the security/privacy category, my advice is to immediately begin remediation.

A security incident is a disaster of the highest order. Get professional help to determine what went wrong and to begin working to prevent future catastrophes. Much of the data in your systems is not yours. It belongs to your members. The inability to safeguard personal information puts those relationships at risk.    

Practice Good Stewardship

Even if your digital resources are in order, a data governance policy is an important piece of responsible stewardship. You want to be certain your data is secure, and you need to know that you are problem-solving with accurate information and statistics.

But what exactly is involved in data governance? Are one or two IT professionals the designated data police? In the past, that might have been feasible. Even then, it probably was not a desirable option.

Data is fundamental to daily decision-making. While a policy that restricts access might keep your data safe, it also builds a wall around that wealth of information. The last thing you want to do is create roadblocks to the collaboration and agility needed for success in digital markets.

In keeping with my views on technology and strategy, I urge .orgSource clients who are exploring data governance to put the focus on the users.

Bob Seiner, who is president and principal of KIK Consulting & Education Services, and the publisher of The Data Administration Newsletter offers this performance-oriented definition. “Data governance is the formalization of behavior around the definition, production, and usage of data to manage risk and improve quality and usability of selected data.”  

Put People First

Your data governance policy will be a document that reflects your organization’s unique culture, teams, and members. But the following characteristics are universal to an approach that puts people first:

Empower and educate

  • Invest in training. Don’t expect your teams to figure this out. Many of the data disasters I’ve seen result from well-intentioned employees trying to get a job done without the correct information about how to do it. This is not the place for independent problem-solving. Every person on your staff should understand best practices. They should receive those instructions from the most reliable source.
  • Provide user-friendly tools to empower employees to access and analyze data independently.
  • Make data governance an organizational priority. Include benchmarks in goals and KPIs.

Foster collaboration and ownership

  • Create teams with representatives across departments to encourage shared ownership.
  • Build communities where data experts share knowledge, best practices, and challenges.
  • Identify individuals who excel in data governance to inspire others.

Build a Data-Driven Culture

  • Encourage data-informed decision-making at every level of the organization.
  • Promote the use of data visualization and storytelling to communicate insights.
  • Educate employees about ethical data handling and privacy regulations.


When you prioritize people and their needs, you create a more effective and sustainable data governance framework. A human focus puts the emphasis on giving people what they need to deliver value safely instead of on watchdogging and limiting access.

In a collaborative governance process, teams are assisted to incorporate guidelines into their daily activities. When staff feel ownership and control over data management, they become engaged in the program’s success. Granting access while guiding usage builds a culture where data is valued.

Create a Powerful Community

People-centered data practices create fertile ground for expertise and enthusiasm to grow. As the program develops, data champions are certain to emerge. These are people who have the ability and interest to become subject experts. By rewarding and recognizing these contributors, you mobilize them to motivate others. Sharing ideas cross-pollinates innovation and stimulates creative thinking that is the hallmark of human-centered technology.

When employees throughout the organization become effective stewards, data transcends its status as information. It becomes the key to building enduring relationships and solving your organization’s biggest challenges.

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