Data Management is a Business *AND* a Technology function

“Data Management is a Business function”.

“Data Management is a Technology function”.


Both of these statements are true.


The old debate about where a Chief Data Office “sits” in an organisation is missing the point.


A Data function needs executive leadership and sponsorship (Business alignment). It needs to understand the business and deliver value.


However, Data only exists in a Technology context. Data is the water that runs through our digital pipes. As such, the ability to make changes to Technology is also crucial to any Data initiative – whether the changes are made by the Data team or some other team.


The key to success is the creation of effective business/technology partnerships. Joint teams, working together to deliver business and technology change. This is not unique to data management. It is the path to success for any delivery in a modern enterprise and is at the core of disciplines such as those found in DevOps.


So, if anyone ever asks: “Does a Data Leader need to be a business person or a technologist”, my answer would be “Yes”.


Do you agree?


#datamanagement #dataleadership #business #technology #devops #dataops

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