by Angela Guess

A new press release reports, “MeriTalk, a public-private partnership focused on improving the outcomes of government IT, today announced the results of its new report, “Calling the Plays: The Evolving Role of the CDO and Federal Big Data.” The study, underwritten by ViON Corporation, reveals Chief Data Officers (CDOs) are changing the Federal big data game – 69 percent of Federal agencies with a CDO are more likely to successfully manage big data than those without (40 percent). In fact, 88 percent of agencies with CDOs report they’re having a positive impact – while 93 percent of those who don’t have a CDO say having one would make a positive impact.”

The release goes on, “Almost all Feds (92 percent) say their agency uses big data in some form, yet the majority (58 percent) would grade their agency’s data management strategy a C or below. Feds’ top challenges include the ability to convert data into actionable intelligence, govern data, and centralize data storage. In fact, the majority of Feds without a CDO (67 percent) say their agency is in desperate need of leadership around big data and analytics efforts. In addition to successfully managing big data, agencies with CDOs are also more likely to successfully leverage big data for decision making (61 percent versus 28 percent of those without a CDO).”

It adds, “Of agencies with a CDO, 76 percent say the CDO has taken ownership over data management and governance issues, with the following primary responsibilities: Centralizing organizational data (55 percent); Protecting organizational data (51 percent); Improving data quality (49 percent); Managing open government data efforts (43 percent); Bridging the gap between IT and operations (43 percent); Leveraging data to help set and achieve realistic goals (41 percent).”

Read more at Business Wire.

Photo credit: MeriTalk