Measuring the Data Universe by Reinhold Stahl & Patricia Staab

Author:Reinhold Stahl & Patricia Staab
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Springer International Publishing, Cham

7.6 Treat Stakeholders Right

The power battles between the data providers and the data users, which are often observed in activities related to the construction of company-wide data warehouses, are often based on the dilemma that the data providers—the owners of the data silos—are expected to carry the burden of data integration whereas they are the ones with no direct benefit. By this we mean that their own work process, performed in the data silo, does not improve in any way when their information, results or data are provided, as a by-product, to others for analytical purposes. “Cui bono?” The people that benefit most from data integration are not the ones who have to carry out the work.

It is therefore vital to have a clear understanding of to whom the placement of information in a central data warehouse offers a real added value. The necessary work to convince people and to justify the effort can then start. The argument that simply every data set has to be integrated, because ultimately the benefit will somehow appear, does not sound very convincing. In particular, this argument suffers when the data users formulate their requirements in exactly this manner: “Give us everything, because we will soon know why we needed it in the first place.”

The success factor lies in the integration of all stakeholders; this also requires a clear understanding of everybody’s role. The Internet is swarming with definitions of roles and tasks which complement, overlap or even contradict each other. Typical terms are the Data Steward (who maintains the data set), Data Owner (who controls the data set), Data Expert (who knows the data set best) and Data Provider (who, well, provides the data set). And these only cover the data-giving parties, not to speak of the data-using parties.

These roles must be designed specifically for the company, all the while taking into account individual requirements for confidentiality, compliance and data protection regulations. This highly demanding process requires a sense of diplomacy and persuasiveness, but also tenacity and, last but not least, a great deal of patience.

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