When considering which Decision Support tools are needed to meet organisational objectives, you need to consider far more than just the tool itself in order to ensure successful outcomes. (more…)
ISO 8000:150-Data Quality Monitoring
In this third blog post about ISO 8000:150 we will look at the Data Quality Monitoring processes that form part of the overall data quality management approach defined in this standard. For an overview of the standard, please see ISO 8000:150–A framework for Data Quality Management. (more…)
ISO 8000:150–Data Operations
In this second blog post about ISO 8000:150 we will look at the Data Operations processes that form part of the overall data quality management approach defined in this standard. For an overview of the standard, please see ISO 8000:150–A framework for Data Quality Management.
ISO 8000-150 – A framework for Data Quality Management
I’m not sure about you, but the prospect of reading an ISO standard does not always fill me with enthusiasm, however, the recent ISO 8000-150 presents an interesting read (at least for those interested in data management). In this blog post I will present an overview of the standard, subsequent related posts will look in more detail at specific areas and will consider the implications for data management and data governance generally. (more…)
We’ve grown organically !
How data is structured is a common issue I have experienced in many organisations and has often been driven by individual end user requirements, organically growing to meet their specific business needs as they occur. The development of these structures although done with the best intent can lead to inconsistencies in approach and terminology (usually where guidance does not exist or is not adhered to). In some cases structures may already be pre-determined by specific client requirements and/or contractual terms or imposed Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS) capabilities, for example. (more…)
Doing the job is only half the job!
In today’s high pressure business world, there are increasing demands to deliver good service. This can mean finishing jobs as soon as possible – which may mean feedback on what was done, how long it took etc. is not completed to save time.
However, it today’s increasingly data reliant world this lack of data (or provision of poor data) can have long term consequences.
Data problems are not an ‘Act of God’…
Conversations with another data quality professional recently highlighted organisations that treat data problems as if they are an ‘Act of God’. In these cases the organisations were trying to deny their existence and were certainly denying that they could do anything about them.
Whilst there are many definitions for an ‘Act of God’ they typically are used to refer to events that are outside human control. Is that really the case with data?
Mind the (data) gap!
Travellers on London Underground will be familiar with the term “Mind the Gap” which is both a visible, and an audio, warning to make sure that you do not become an unfortunate statistic on the railway – you may lose items between the train and platform (hang on to your Kindle when boarding!) or, worse still, trip/slip in the gap.
It is also important that you “Mind the (data) gap” when ‘things’ are transferred between organisations, departments and systems. I have used the term ‘thing’ to cover designs, products, services, responsibilities etc. (more…)
Good data is NOT a PDF document!
Well structured data that is properly stored, managed and governed is increasingly being recognised as a way to improve business efficiency and effectiveness. However, too many people still think that information stored in electronic format is good data…
Outsourcing your data quality problems??
A recent UK news story illustrates the dangers in outsourcing your data quality problems. UK Borders Agency awarded a £30m contract to Capita to track down 174,000 supposed illegal immigrants.
This quickly highlighted significant data quality problems with the wrong people being targeted – people who had left the UK years ago, people who held valid British passports etc. What added to the anguish suffered by people was the impersonal way that SMS text messages were used to inform them “Message from the UK Border Agency: You are required to leave the UK as you no longer have the right to remain.”