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Data Governance: An Overview and Key Considerations
What Is Data Governance?
SAP data can deliver innovation, drive user experience, and provide competitive advantage. The process of marrying SAP data with non-SAP data from different systems — from Internet of Things devices to the back office to an organization’s web systems — is defining data culture around the world.
Simply combining data, however, is not enough. Proper management is essential to realizing its value.
Data governance is considered a core component of an effective data management strategy. Data governance can ensure that data is consistent, accurate, and protected.
The Data Governance Institute (DGI) defines data governance as “a system of decision rights and accountabilities for information-related processes, executed according to agreed-upon models which describe who can take what actions with what information, and when, under what circumstances, using what methods.” (Read the DGI’s 10 rules of engagement.)
Data Governance: An Overview and Key Considerations
What Is Data Governance?
SAP data can deliver innovation, drive user experience, and provide competitive advantage. The process of marrying SAP data with non-SAP data from different systems — from Internet of Things devices to the back office to an organization’s web systems — is defining data culture around the world.
Simply combining data, however, is not enough. Proper management is essential to realizing its value.
Data governance is considered a core component of an effective data management strategy. Data governance can ensure that data is consistent, accurate, and protected.
The Data Governance Institute (DGI) defines data governance as “a system of decision rights and accountabilities for information-related processes, executed according to agreed-upon models which describe who can take what actions with what information, and when, under what circumstances, using what methods.” (Read the DGI’s 10 rules of engagement.)
Key Considerations for SAPinsiders
The following steps can help you implement effective data governance:
- Create a strong business case for data governance. According to SAP partner Winshuttle, you need to be able to clearly communicate the value of your data to gain support from leadership. Winshuttle’s Winshuttle Foundation and Winshuttle Studio offer data management capabilities. According to the vendor, your data should be maintained through a data governance program that can ensure data quality and proper management, while complying with regulations to keep the data safe and effective.
- Increase revenue potential with a strong data governance foundation. Consider the approach of Breakthru Beverage Group. On a mission to become a fully integrated, data-driven business, the company first built a foundation with its data governance program. The initiative to cleanse and conform its material, vendor, and customer data was supported by SAP partner Protiviti, and resulted in a scorecard on data cleanliness as well as a downstream benefit: revenue generation, by enabling the business to more quickly activate products and more accurately report on them. Read the full data story.
- Set the stage for standardization and automation capabilities. In 2016, we wrote about Keurig Green Mountain’s approach to data governance. In response to meteoric growth and a growing love of the single-cup brew, the company undertook an ambitious data governance project. It transitioned from a data maintenance to a data governance organization. At the time, Keurig’s Director of Master Data Management Business Process Eileen Hanafin said its data governance initiative set the company up for future standardization and automation capabilities with a focus on continuous improvement.
23 results
A Virtual Win: Why SAP Integration is Vital for ServiceNowOct 11, 2023 — Despite some positive signs in recent months of slowing interest rates and inflation, the global economy will remain in a volatile state as we head into 2024, at least according to the World Economic Forum. For most organizations faced with the prospect of continued uncertainty, this raises a few questions around investment and competitiveness. There are some common problems around IT skills shortages, as well as managing legacy IT investments, to which digital transformations are seen as an answer. But the fact is, not all transformations are equal.
8 minute read
Video: Building a Robust Master Data Foundation with SimpleMDGMar 21, 2022 — Master data governance is critical for success with business processes and data analytics. Yet, it is a complex challenge in today's diverse landscape. Laidon's SimpleMDG allows for a intuitive user interface to create based on pre-built templates and manage workflows with automation.
1 minute read
Cloud Data Compliance – Common Questions to ConsiderJan 14, 2022 — Compliance, like security, is a non-negotiable goal, and one that is increasingly complex. Cloud computing has clearly compounded this challenge with additional requirements such as encryption, auditing, data location, and data separation rules. While several factors are involved, organizations can increase confidence in their IT staff by addressing these common questions and avoid common pitfalls.
3 minute read
Make 2023 The Year of Building Supply Chain Data FoundationAug 16, 2021 — As we head into the new year, you have already read many articles predicting supply chain trends for 2023. I am not a big fan of predicting trends when it comes to supply chains. My primary reasoning is that these trends are not a surprise for seasoned supply chain leaders and executives. These leaders and executives experience the challenges associated with these trends on a day-to-day basis in their roles. This article, therefore, aims to look beyond the trends to understand how we can use this year to build foundation in an area that can help build supply chains that can address challenges associated with these trends: Effective supply chain data management.
7 minute read
Case Study: National Vision Creates Data Buy-in, Single Version of Truth with Common Core MeasuresOct 20, 2020 — Learn how National Vision, one of the largest optical retailers in the United States operating 1,000 retail locations, established enterprise-wide best practices for developing common core measures, and successfully implemented a core metrics infrastructure and governance that feeds all business reporting and analytics. Learn firsthand from the planning, rollout, and ongoing strategy and maintenance which provides a single version of truth to users across the business. Find out how National Vision:
- Collected core measures across the company and now maintains a mart of that aggregated data which has become a core to business reporting and analysis
- Created central data repositories and pre-aggregated and defined key metrics to be used across the business
- Established buy-in and reliance on the data by having a single truth to core business questions
- Recognized the critical role of people, process, and technology to ensure successful adoption of the core measures
- Maintains the program to keep adoption rates high
1 minute read
How to Tackle the Top 3 Challenges with Materials and SAP Product DataMar 6, 2020 — If you’re running your manufacturing operations using an SAP ERP system you know there’s a mountain of master data behind each product. If you’re charged with improving how your business handles materials and SAP product data processes, this eBook is for you. You’ll come away with practical tips on how to tackle the top 3 […]
1 minute read
How To Start And Build Successful SAP Data Management ProgramMar 6, 2020 — If you’re a data governance or SAP® master data professional responsible for improving the quality of the SAP ERP data, this eBook is for you. It will give you a high-level overview of what to consider if you’re building an SAP data management program from scratch or looking for ways to boost the performance of […]
1 minute read
History, Data, and Success in the Digital EconomyOct 19, 2017 — Back in 1973, in the early days of SAP, co-founder Hasso Plattner had a mishap. In those days, the company processed data using punch cards that ran on mainframe computers. Time on these mainframes was a precious commodity, and programmers like Hasso would travel from computer to computer according to availability, toting the punch cards […]
3 minute read
Converting to SAP HANA or SAP S/4HANA?Aug 24, 2017 —
Any company moving to SAP HANA or SAP S/4HANA must have a strategy in place for managing data — especially organizations who will be converting their existing SAP systems. While data management best practices for SAP systems recommend reducing the size of existing systems to reduce the cost and complexity of a conversion, different strategies can be used depending on a variety of factors. Learn how to choose the right data management strategy to ensure a successful conversion to SAP HANA and SAP S/4HANA.
5 minute read
Building a True Data Monetization StrategyAug 16, 2017 —
Monetization is the end goal for all data use — organizations must find a way to leverage data to either reduce costs or gain new revenue. To effectively monetize the growing volumes of data in modern business landscapes, organizations need a comprehensive strategy that is scalable, flexible, and able to synthesize internal and external data to derive unique insights. Learn how to build this strategy with a data governance platform that centers on SAP HANA and enables you to effectively use data by discovering, contextualizing, and measuring data sources.
4 minute read