http://www.b-eye-network.com/blogs/oneal/ Thanks for joining our data conversation! This blog is an opportunity to share the real life challenges, opportunities and approaches to improving the quality and value of data in your organization. We will write about everything data related from translating "data" speak into "business" speak, to governance models, to the real differences among the myriad software tools available. But there's one catch: we all have to agree to toss out the fluff. That's right, no 30,000 foot, theoretical strategies that leave you wondering how to execute and actually improve performance. Visit regularly to learn from peers and partners on how they are managing and improving data, and we hope you'll also share your views and experiences. Copyright 2012 Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:19:31 -0700 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=4.261 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss In a buzz-word heavy industry, there is a lot of confusion around the difference between Data Management and Information Management. After all, isn't data information? Well, yes and no. What is Data? Wikipedia defines data as: "The term data refers to qualitative or quantitative attributes of a variable or set of variables. " Data is more than one such attribute value. Is data information? Yes, information is provided by data but only because data is always specified in some abstract... http://www.b-eye-network.com/blogs/oneal/archives/2012/02/what_is_the_dif.php http://www.b-eye-network.com/blogs/oneal/archives/2012/02/what_is_the_dif.php Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:19:31 -0700 As I'm thinking about my goals for 2012, I realized how similar this process is to setting up a Data Governance Program. Like many people, every year over the holidays I take stock of what happened the year before, what I enjoyed, what I didn't, and what I'd like to do in the coming year. I resolved to exercise more (resolved to do this last year), create more work-life balance (also on last year's list), climb a mountain (yes,... http://www.b-eye-network.com/blogs/oneal/archives/2012/01/new_years_resol_1.php http://www.b-eye-network.com/blogs/oneal/archives/2012/01/new_years_resol_1.php Wed, 04 Jan 2012 11:24:01 -0700 An analogous rule to The Power of Context is The Rule of 150. This rule says that close-knit groups have the power to magnify the epidemic potential of a message or idea. If we want groups to serve as incubators for contagious messages, then we have to keep groups below the 150 person tipping point. Above that point, there begins to be structural impediments to the ability of the group to agree and act with one voice. Although we don't... http://www.b-eye-network.com/blogs/oneal/archives/2011/09/the_tipping_poi_4.php http://www.b-eye-network.com/blogs/oneal/archives/2011/09/the_tipping_poi_4.php Mon, 12 Sep 2011 05:29:47 -0700 We looked at The Law of the Few and The Stickiness Factor rules that author Malcolm Gladwell describes in his book, The Tipping Point. The final rule is The Power of Context. How can this concept help in the process to create awareness, get people on board and communicate the value of Data Governance? Gladwell explores the fact that human beings are a lot more sensitive to their environment than they may seem. Behavior is more of a function of... http://www.b-eye-network.com/blogs/oneal/archives/2011/08/the_tipping_poi_3.php http://www.b-eye-network.com/blogs/oneal/archives/2011/08/the_tipping_poi_3.php Sat, 27 Aug 2011 15:44:32 -0700 One of the biggest challenges in adopting and sustaining Data Governance is spreading ideas and creating action - creating the tipping point. The second rule author Malcolm Gladwell describes in the book, The Tipping Point, is The Stickiness Factor. This rule relates that there are specific ways of making a contagious message memorable - making it stick. Typically, there are relatively simple changes in the presentation and structuring of information that can make a big difference in how much of... http://www.b-eye-network.com/blogs/oneal/archives/2011/08/the_tipping_poi_2.php http://www.b-eye-network.com/blogs/oneal/archives/2011/08/the_tipping_poi_2.php Tue, 16 Aug 2011 09:30:33 -0700 http://www.b-eye-network.com/blogs/oneal/archives/2011/08/the_tipping_poi_1.php http://www.b-eye-network.com/blogs/oneal/archives/2011/08/the_tipping_poi_1.php Tue, 09 Aug 2011 18:49:26 -0700 http://www.b-eye-network.com/blogs/oneal/archives/2011/07/the_tipping_poi.php http://www.b-eye-network.com/blogs/oneal/archives/2011/07/the_tipping_poi.php Wed, 27 Jul 2011 21:54:59 -0700 In our last post, we introduced the importance of sanctioning titles and roles in a Data Governance organization in the same way you label, approve and use data and metadata definitions. Although this seems intuitive, there are many organizations where all people associated with Data Governance are informal and nobody has the terms Data Governance (or Data Steward or Data Custodian or Data Librarian or...) in their titles. There are a few ways to go about getting the titles sanctioned:... http://www.b-eye-network.com/blogs/oneal/archives/2011/06/part_ii_the_imp.php http://www.b-eye-network.com/blogs/oneal/archives/2011/06/part_ii_the_imp.php Thu, 16 Jun 2011 22:42:36 -0700 Most data initiatives such as data quality, Master Data Management, data integration and data consolidation start with an exercise of labeling data. Some typical labels include identifying entity types, agreeing on definitions, defining metadata, and identifying data attributes that are important or shared across an organization. This is not only helpful to define the scope of the initiative but also to establish a common language around data so that everyone understands, contributes and is able to make right decisions. There... http://www.b-eye-network.com/blogs/oneal/archives/2011/06/labeling_confir.php http://www.b-eye-network.com/blogs/oneal/archives/2011/06/labeling_confir.php Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:35:26 -0700 Welcome to the first post on the Agile Data blog! We have been having rigorous, interesting and curious conversations about data with clients and industry for some time now. So we thought it is about time to formally launch this blog! This blog is an opportunity to share the real life challenges, opportunities and approaches to improving the quality and value of data in your organization. We will write about everything data related from translating "data" speak into "business" speak,... http://www.b-eye-network.com/blogs/oneal/archives/2011/05/agile_data_blog.php http://www.b-eye-network.com/blogs/oneal/archives/2011/05/agile_data_blog.php Thu, 19 May 2011 02:43:05 -0700