Most companies continue to struggle in managing their data and putting it to work. They expend a lot of time and energy, but don’t get much for their efforts. Quality is low, people don’t trust the data, technical debt is out-of-control, and they miss opportunities to become data-driven, take advantage of advanced analytics and AI, and compete with data. Indeed, most organizations are simply not attuned to the rigors of working with data.
Build Better Management Systems to Put Your Data to Work
Five guidelines to help you decide who does what.
June 30, 2022
Summary.
If you look under the hood of most company’s data strategy — if they have one, that is — you’ll find that most data is woefully unmanaged. It’s unclear how data is meant to be used and who is responsible for it. Businesses must craft better systems and approaches to working with data, and that starts with clarifying management responsibilities for everyone who touches data in any way, across the entire company. They can start with five steps: 1) get everyone involved, 2) build infrastructure that can overcome the limitations created by silos, 3) stop asking IT to manage data, 4) charge data teams with coaching and coordinating, and 5) get senior leadership off the sidelines.
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New!
HBR Learning
Digital Intelligence Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Digital Intelligence . Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Excel in a world that's being continually transformed by technology.