As a business person, you probably have more data and more kinds of data available than ever before. But has it helped? Sometimes, maybe. But, for many executives more data has just added more fuel to feed the fire of their love/hate relationship with it. You love it when it gives you good information about which markets to pursue or how to compete more effectively. But you hate it when you can’t get sales figures in time or worse still, when they don’t reflect "reality."

This book was written for the executive who wants to understand the lifeblood of his/her company, wants to be able to make better decisions, and knows that managing information is the best way to protect and grow a business. This book is designed to help you as a business leader think about the use of data and its impact on your daily operation. In 2 sections and 12 chapters it provides practical guidance to balance the use of hard facts and your professional instincts; how to identify and focus on the numbers that matter for your organization; how to overcome the obstacles to getting a complete view of your customer; how to meet risk and security standards; 12 steps to effective business performance management; and how to grow a data culture and make it work for you.

Newly minted MBAs are known for saying, “Just give me your number.” Savvy managers know that it’s not that simple. They also know that it’s not that difficult. Managing Your Business Data provides the wise counsel that every executive can use to manage his or her organization’s data more productively.

Section I Why Should You Care About Data?

Chapter 1 Data, Fact, and Your Gut

What Kind of Data Is Important?
Basic Data Characteristics and Attributes
Creating Effective Data
How Do You Know to Trust the Data?
Summary

Chapter 2 Data: The Key to a Complete View of Your Customer

Data and the 360-Degree View
Obstacles to a 360-Degree View

Chapter 3 Data and Compliance

Compliance and Data Management
Information Security and Risk Management
Information Security Legislation and Standards
Information Security and Data Management Implications
Data Privacy Legislation and Standards
Data Privacy and Data Management Implications
Financial Reporting Legislation and Standards
Financial Reporting and Data Implications
Summary

Chapter 4 Data and Performance Measurement

What Is Business Performance Management (BPM) Anyway?
What Makes a BPM Application Difficult?
Data Challenges
Twelve Steps to Making BPM Work
Data Management Implications
Summary

Chapter 5 Growing and Managing a Data Culture

A Hierarchy of Human Needs
A Hierarchy of Data Needs
Implementing a Data Management Culture
Summary

Section II Making Data Work for You

Chapter 6 The Ballad of “Bad Data”

The Data’s Bad!
Wally’s Dilemma
The Ninety-day Project
Nine Months Later
It’s Not Easy

Chapter 7 Start at the Top: Putting Data Management on the Executive Agenda

Ways to Get Management Attention
Summary

Chapter 8 Managing Data as a Company Asset

Asset Inventory
The Enterprise Metadata Repository
Who Should the Enterprise Metadata Owner Be?
The Benefits of Metadata
Obstacles to Creating an Enterprise Metadata Repository
Determining the Data Asset Value
Roles and Responsibilities
Policies and Procedures
Asset Management and Accountability
Summary

Chapter 9 Deploying Enterprise Data Management in Stages

Addressing the Safety Needs of Reliability and Consistency
Addressing Data Quality
Three Myths of Data Quality
Who Is Responsible for Data Quality
How Do You Manage Data Quality?
What Actions Should You Take to Ensure Ongoing Data Quality?
Where Should You Start a Data-quality Program?
Addressing Privacy and Security
Summary
For Further Reading

Chapter 10 Establishing Accountability and Governance

Appointing a Data Leader
Why a Chief Data Officer for Your Firm?
What Are the Chief Data Officer’s Responsibilities?
What Are the Skills and Characteristics of the CDO?
Who Should the Chief Data Officer Report to Within the Firm?
What Are Some Measurements of Success for the CDO?
Is the Chief Data Officer a Permanent Position?
Appointing Business Data Stewards
Why Do You Need a Business Data Steward?
How Should You Think About Business Data Stewards and Their Mission?
What Are the Attributes of an Effective Business Data Steward?
What Level Is the Business Data Steward and to Whom Does the Steward Report?
Getting Started with Limited Resources
How to Ensure a Successful Business Data Stewardship Program in Your Organization
Training the Business Data Steward
What Governance and Management Systems Should a Chief Data Officer Employ?
A Matrix Organization: Business Data Steward and Chief Data Officer
Assessing and Measuring Progress of Data Management Maturity
Data Management Scorecard
Summary
For More Information

Chapter 11 Get Talent: Securing the Right Data Skills

Skills of the Information Management Professional
To Certify or Not to Certify?
Summary

Chapter 12 Communicate and Educate: Selling Data and Overcoming Resistance

Changing Attitudes About Data
Dealing with Resistance—The Chief Data Officer’s Challenge
Selling the Benefits of Data Management
Summary

. . . an outstanding job in explaining all of the critical elements for business intelligence to be successful. A must-read, whether you have been in the business intelligence business for years or are just starting out. This book offers kernels of wisdom for everyone!

Sheila Jordan
VP Information Technology, Communication and Collaboration
Cisco Systems

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A book like this has been badly needed by some of America’s largest corporations—an “insider’s” guide to solving a common corporate problem: irreconcilable data.

Arthur Middleton Hughes
Vice President, Solutions Architect
KnowledgeBase Marketing
Author of Strategic Database Marketing 3rd Ed. and Successful Email Marketing Strategy

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. . . not just meant for the data geeks among us but also for the business leaders. . . . This is a real practitioner’s guide, whether you are a data professional, or in marketing, sales, business management, finance, or operations.

Cathy Cooper
Senior Director, Database Marketing
Global Marketing Operations SAP

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This book provides a clear and concise roadmap for business leaders who wish to drive their operations ahead of the crowd.

John G. Schwarz
CEO
Business Objects

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. . . the kind of information people need to bridge the gap between IT thinking and business thinking. Should be required reading in management IT classes.

Alan Weber
Principal
Data to Strategy Group LLC
Author of Data-Driven Business Models

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. . . invaluable information you need to convince executives of the importance of data management, managing data as an asset, and deploying a data management program . . . an outstanding read for anyone who needs a blueprint for how to tackle managing business data.

Mary E. Orr
Director, Strategic Sales & Marketing Support
ChoicePoint

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. . . a valuable reference on what to do and how to do it . . . an excellent volume to have next to your computer or on your office reference book shelf.

Peter J Rosenwald
Principal
Consult Partners
Founder and President, Wunderman Worldwide
Former Chairman, Saatchi & Saatchi Direct
Author of Accountable Marketing