Data Governance Framework | S01-E03 – Getting Sponsorship

This is the third episode of our series “The Effective Data Governance Framework”. Split into three seasons, this first part will focus on Alignment: understanding the context, finding the right people, and preparing an action plan for your data-driven journey. This third episode will give you the keys to getting good sponsorship for your data projects.

Saison 1 : Alignement

Évaluez votre niveau de maturité en matière de données

Définissez votre stratégie en matière de données

Trouver des sponsors

Réaliser une analyse SWOT

Saison 2 : S'adapter

Organisez votre bureau des données

Organisez votre communauté de données

Sensibiliser aux données

Saison 3 : Mise en place métadonnées à l'aide d'un catalogue de données

L'importance des métadonnées

Six semaines pour vous lancer gouvernance des données

In the previous episode, we discussed how best to use OKRs to draft your enterprise data strategy, ensure focus, accountability and engagement from the stakeholders with as much transparency as possible and negotiate objectives at all levels.

Step 1: Identify Potential Sponsors

The first step consists in identifying all the potential sponsors and setting up one to one (or one to many if you involve many colleagues) meetings to ensure endorsements and move forward on the data governance you want to put in place. You have learned a lot from the OKR meetings and now have the substance to ensure their support.

Step 2: Prepare Your Storytelling

The second step is to prepare a story for each sponsor. Again, based on the workshops you were involved in on the company Data Strategy, you should be able to draft a personalized story.

You have 3 forms of storytelling which can be combined if needed:

• Use a testimony and real story to strengthen yours.
• Use a metaphor to illustrate the data concepts when they feel too complex.
• Use a “springboard” story from a specific characteristic to give the big picture.

Step 3: Present Yourself

The third step consists in getting ready to describe who you are, what you do and why you do it through the prism of every sponsor.

Step 4: Asking for Money

The fourth step consists in getting ready to ask for the money. Asking for money involves proposing different scenarios with different outcomes, a detailed analysis on the costs, a quantitative view on the financial benefits and then a ROI analysis.

Step 5: Commit to Deliverables

The fifth step is to commit to deliverables. There won’t be endorsement if you don’t commit to tangible deliverables, results as well as a time frame.

How to Maximize Your Chances for Getting the Sponsors Aligned:

Ask for More Than You Need

Don’t sell yourself short and be prepared for a cut in your funding expectations and prepare accordingly.

Get a Champion

In the list of sponsors, try to build a good relationship with one in particular and ask for help and insights to maximize your chances of winning.

Be Impeccable in All Aspects

When you’re courting a sponsor, always keep to your word, always be on time or early for an appointment. Let him or her know you are a person of integrity. Don’t forget to share the OKRs Map in which the sponsor is involved down to your own OKR.

Be Brief and Sharp

Ask for what you want, but don’t take up a lot of potential sponsors’ time doing it.

Get Commitments

At the end of the sponsorship process, you should be able to get the following outcomes:

• Get understanding and alignment.
• Get funding (means and resources).
• Get help in removing impediments (and build a fast track in the organization hurdles).
• Get a schedule to organize feedback ceremonies.

À propos de l'auteur

À propos de Actian Corporation

Actian permet aux entreprises de gérer et de gouverner leurs données en toute confiance, quelle que soit leur ampleur. Les organisations font confiance aux solutions gestion des données d'intelligence des données d'Actian pour rationaliser leurs environnements de données complexes et accélérer la mise à disposition de données prêtes pour l'IA. Conçues pour être flexibles, les solutions Actian s'intègrent de manière transparente et fonctionnent de manière fiable dans les environnements sur site, dans le cloud et hybrides. Pour en savoir plus sur Actian, la division données et IA de HCL Software, rendez-vous sur actian.com.