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About the Webinar
Too often, I hear the question, “Can you help me with our Data Strategy?” Unfortunately, for most, this is the wrong request because it focuses on the least valuable component — the Data Strategy itself. A more useful request is, “Can you help me apply data strategically?” Yes, at early maturity phases, the process of developing strategic thinking about data is more important than the actual product! Trying to write a good (much less perfect) Data Strategy on the first attempt is generally not productive — particularly giving the widespread acceptance of Mike Tyson’s truism: “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.” Refocus on learning how to iteratively improve the way data is strategically applied. This will permit data-based strategy components to keep up with agile, evolving organizational strategies. This approach can also contribute to three primary organizational data goals. Learn how improving the following will help in ways never imagined:
- Your organization’s data
- The way your people use data
- The way your people use data to achieve your organizational strategy
Data is your sole non-depletable, non-degradable, durable strategic asset, and it is pervasively shared across every organizational area. Addressing existing challenges programmatically includes overcoming necessary but insufficient prerequisites and developing a disciplined, repeatable means of improving business objectives. This process (based on the theory of constraints) is where the strategic data work really occurs as organizations identify prioritized areas where better assets, literacy, and support (Data Strategy components) can help an organization better achieve specific strategic objectives. Then the process becomes lather, rinse, and repeat. Several complementary concepts are also covered, including:
- A cohesive argument for why Data Strategy is necessary for effective Data Governance
- An overview of prerequisites for effective strategic use of Data Strategy, as well as common pitfalls
- A repeatable process for identifying and removing data constraints
- The importance of balancing business operation and innovation
About the Speaker
Peter Aiken, PhD
Professor of Information Systems, VCU and Founder, Anything Awesome
Peter Aiken, an acknowledged Data Management (DM) authority, is an Associate Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, past President of DAMA International, and Associate Director of the MIT International Society of Chief Data Officers. For more than 35 years, Peter has learned from working with hundreds of Data Management practices in 30 countries. Among his 10 books are the first on CDOs (the case for data leadership), the first describing the use of monetization data for profit/good, and the first on modern strategic data thinking. International recognition has resulted in an intensive schedule of events worldwide. Peter also hosts the longest-running DM webinar series (hosted by dataversity.net). From 1999 (before Google, before data was big, and before Data Science), he founded Data Blueprint, a consulting firm that helped more than 150 organizations leverage data for profit, improvement, competitive advantage, and operational efficiencies. His latest venture is Anything Awesome.