Set Clear Expectations From the Start
One big mistake I see organizations make when starting out on their data governance journey is forgetting the rationale behind data. So don't just govern to govern. Whether you need to minimize risks or maximize your benefits, link your data governance projects to clear and measurable outcomes. As data governance is not a departmental initiative, but rather a company-wide initiative, you will need to prove its value from the start to convince leaders to prioritize and allocate some resources.
What Is Your "Emerald City"? Define Your Meaning of Success
In the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the "Emerald City" is Dorothy's ultimate destination, the end of the famous yellow brick road. In your data governance project, success can take different forms: reinforcing data control, mitigating risks or data breaches, reducing time spent by business teams, monetizing your data or producing new value from your data pipelines. Meeting compliance standards to avoid penalties is crucial to be considered. Ensure you know where you are headed and where the destination is.