The latest installment in our Q&A series with women leaders in data features Shannon Hughes, enterprise data architecture manager at ExxonMobil’s Central Data Office. (Read our previous Q&A here.) Shannon Hughes became fascinated with data and technology as a kid, inspired by her dad – a technical data analyst for the U.S. Air Force. She now […]
How to Build a Data Governance Program in 90 Days
For many people in business, the mention of a data governance program evokes excessive red tape, bureaucratic drag, and, most of all, outsiders meddling in daily operations. “What is the preconceived notion about data governance? We are the police, we tell you no, we tell you to stop, we slow you down,” said Sherry Hidalgo, director of […]
How to Govern a Business Glossary
Many people see the dictionary as a thing of unquestionable authority, with words and meanings that rarely change. Likewise, in corporate culture, business leaders often mistake the business glossary – a collection of data-related terms and definitions used within an organization – as being static, straightforward, and simple to develop and maintain. Timothy Mulholland, associate manager and […]
What Is Active Metadata and Why Does It Matter?
Metadata is like the secret sauce of the internet. You type a word or phrase in a search engine, press enter, and the information you’re looking for appears (usually). An action that once seemed “indistinguishable from magic,” to quote the third of Arthur C. Clarke’s three laws, is now as commonplace as heating up leftovers in […]
Generative AI vs. Traditional AI
Traditional AI, also known as “classical AI,” is known for being rule-based and dependent on stringent programming for its intended output. These techniques revolve around the manipulation of symbols and logical reasoning to perform tasks. Key methodologies include rule-based systems, where knowledge is encoded in the form of “if-then” statements, enabling machines to make decisions […]
Choosing a Data Quality Tool: What, Why, How
Data-driven organizations are in a race to collect the information that modern analytics techniques rely on to generate insights and guide business decisions. The ever-growing flow of data into business systems challenges companies to devise new techniques for ensuring the quality of the data as its quantity skyrockets. Data quality tool vendors are rising to […]
A Brief History of Data Ethics
In this digital age, where data is an increasingly integral asset for every organization, the ethical implications surrounding data collection, storage, and usage have become prominent. The evolution and history of data ethics is a complex journey that connects technological advancements with societal values and legal frameworks. Understanding this evolution requires examining key historical milestones and the […]
Creating a Successful Data Quality Strategy
Maximizing the value of data often comes down to ensuring it’s in the right place at the right time and in the right form. While that process may produce magical-seeming results, the road to creating an optimal data quality strategy need not be mystifying. This was the guiding message delivered by Monika Kapoor – director […]
Six Common Digital Transformation Challenges
During digital transformation, one of the most formidable challenges organizations face is resistance to change and the complexities of effective change management. Human nature often gravitates toward familiarity and routine, making any deviation a source of discomfort. This psychological inertia can stem from various factors including fear of job loss, perceived inadequacy in new skill […]
Improving Data Quality with Data Stewardship
To get value from data, data stewards must understand and apply business requirements. When business ambiguity arises about how to best serve data stakeholders, data stewards need to know how to find out this information and with whom to speak. By doing so, stewards can align fit-for-purpose data with business needs and improve data quality. Data stewards understand […]