The 6 Allegories of The Data Garden (Analogies / Metaphors / Fables)


The book "The Data Garden And Other Data Allegories" presents 6 fictional stories, which have been written to explain key data management topics in ways that are simple to understand, by rooting them in familiar real-world scenarios.

After each story, a short “lesson” is provided to draw out one or two key take-away points and to illustrate how the ideas apply in a business context.

This article summarises the 6 stories: the metaphors they use and the topics that they bring to life.


1. THE DATA GARDEN

Data Management is like gardening...

In The Data Garden, the fundamental nature of data is explored. What happens when data isn’t properly managed and maintained? Why might you want to invest in managing your data? What are the different techniques that are needed for managing data in different sizes of organisation?

Plus, what do you do about people who drop data litter?


2. THE DATA GOVERNANCE COUNTRY

Data Governance is like running a country...

The Data Governance Country compares the activities involved in running a country with those required to govern data. Why is data governance needed for a business to succeed? What makes data governance a distinct discipline? What is needed to make it work?

Plus, how do you deal with data zombies?


3. THE DATA QUALITY HOSPITAL

Data Quality Management is like running a hospital...

In The Data Quality Hospital, the processes for managing the health of data are explained. How do you diagnose and prioritise large volumes of data quality issues? What metrics can you use to optimise the treatment of data issues?

Plus, how do you deal with a data quality pandemic?


4. THE DATA ARCHITECTURE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

Data Architecture is like delivering a large infrastructure building project...

The Data Architecture Construction Project uses the development of a town to step through the challenges associated with a large data architecture initiative. What can go wrong when your data architecture isn’t well designed? How can you organise separate but inter-dependent teams to deliver successfully together? 

Plus, how do you avoid data disappearing down a bottomless pit?


5. THE METADADATA MESS

Metadata management is like supply chain orchestration...

In The Metadata Mess, the value of metadata is illustrated using the analogy of a retail supply chain. What happens when your customer service is impacted by poor metadata? How do you regain control when you don’t know what your data is, where it is and where it’s going?

Plus, can you see through the façade of the shiny data warehouse?


6. THE DATA LITERACY DRIVING SCHOOL

Finally, The Data Literacy Driving School uses the process of learning to drive to illustrate the importance of data literacy. What is the impact of a lack of data literacy? What does it feel like when you start to understand the power of effective data management? Where will you go when you are in the know?

Plus, how do you avoid a data car crash?


Each of these stories has been written to address a discrete topic, but as you read them you will notice patterns and connections between them, and there are several layers to the stories, both within paragraphs and at a macro level. 


If you are interested in learning more, please do check the book out on Amazon:

  • The Data Garden on Amazon.CO.UK
  • The Data Garden on Amazon.COM

    • Thanks for reading!


    #data #datamanagement #datagovernance #dataquality #dataarchitecture #metadata #dataliteracy #allegories #metaphors #analogies #stories #storytelling 


    More info:


    Comments

    Post a Comment

    Popular posts from this blog

    Why does maintaining legacy technology cost so much?

    Why does maintaining legacy technology cost so much? Let’s compare it to a building. Imagine you have an old converted barn, which has a thatched roof. In the past, thatching was one of the most advanced techniques for roofing, providing outstanding insulation and protection from the elements. Thatching was also a common skill, so maintaining a roof built using this technique was relatively cheap. Nowadays, a thatched roof is no longer cutting edge. More modern methods last longer with less need for maintenance. The skills needed to maintain a thatched roof are scarce, so expert craftsmen can charge more. Also, if you ever wanted to extend your house, to add more space or use it for other purposes, connecting it to modern roofing structures will be hard and expensive, and will make it even harder and more costly to maintain in the future. Unlike a thatched roof, your legacy technology doesn’t ‘look nice’, so other than the fact that it ‘still works’, the benefits of continuing to inves...
    Read more

    "The reluctant student" - Section 1 of 7: THE DATA LITERACY DRIVING SCHOOL (free excerpts)

    Image
      This is the first part of the chapter titled “The Data Literacy Driving School”, from the book “ The Data Garden And Other Data Allegories ”. ______________________________ The reluctant student You look over at your driving instructor and sigh. Why do I have to do this again? you think. Taking data taxis had always been fine before. This seems like it’s going to be a lot of effort, and for what? Your company’s enrolled you on a mandatory data literacy driving course. For years, data employees have been paying to use other people’s data cars to get places, but after a series of wasted journeys and large-scale data car crashes, there has been a decision to educate everyone on how to drive. Someone realised that if people didn’t know how to drive a data car, they wouldn’t be able to effectively direct a data taxi driver to get the best out of their journey. At this point, you’re pretty sure you’re never going to need to use these new skills that you’re learning. Taxis have always ...
    Read more

    “Hope for the future" - Section 14 of 14: THE DATA ARCHITECTURE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT (free excerpts)

    Image
    This is the fourteenth part of the chapter titled “The Data Architecture Construction Project”, from the book “ The Data Garden And Other Data Allegories ”. ______________________________ Hope for the future After the meeting has finished, your Head Builder finds you back in the meeting room, leaning back in your chair and gazing out of one of the windows at the Data Insights Town skyline. The sun is setting behind one of the tall buildings in the distance and the sky is awash with hues of red, yellow and orange. His presence stirs you from your reverie and you look at him with a smile. “How do you think my first day went?” “Could’ve been worse,” comes the response, with a chuckle.  You laugh in return. “That sounded enthusiastic!” Your new deputy comes and sits next to you. He speaks slowly and with meaning. “I’ll be honest, Boss. Things haven’t been great around here for a long time. I think you can see that from what you’ve heard today. But you can also see how much everyone her...
    Read more