Recently, I have been reading Mark Carney's book Value(s). It got me thinking about the need for core/key values as an essential tool to guide the implementation of an organizational Data Culture/Literacy program. Based on my current work in developing a Data Culture/Literacy change management process, I drafted the following organizational Data Culture Values Statement. Based on any feedback I get, I plan to convert this into poster for complimentary download. Feel free to comment below.
A comment on the concept of Data Culture. If you put 10 people in a room and asked them to define "data" you would come out with 15 answers! I am using the term Data Culture to refer to the attitudes, practices, and behavioural norms an organization applies to their data. Data is often a by-product of processes, and as an asset never appears on a balance sheet. Data is intangible and ephemeral. Yet, we know from countless studies that data is now a key strategic asset. Data Culture is the way data is seen, managed, and recognized in an organization. The purpose of this values statement is to provide a foundation for building a positive Data Culture in any organization.
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A Data Culture Values Statement
1. We believe that the basis of a being an excellent and data-driven organization starts with promoting a positive data culture.
2. We recognize that every organization already has a data culture. The foundation of this Values Statement is built on understanding the nature of that culture, and having passionate conversations about where we are and where we need to be with that data culture.
3. We believe that promoting a positive data culture is the work of everyone from executives to the newest hires.
4. Data is a core strategic asset. We will manage our data infrastructure/assets with the same intentionality as we manage people, strategy, and stakeholder engagement.
5. Every individual in our organization is already a data worker, we commit to helping each of them understand the value and contribution their data work brings to the organization.
6. We will provide everyone with the tools, training and opportunity to match their data skills with the requirements of their roles and responsibilities.
7. We actively promote the use of data to inform decisions, strategies, policies and planning. As W. Edwards Deming put it; “Without data you’re just another person with an opinion.”
8. We encourage every member of the organization to explore, analyze, and communicate data insights that contribute to innovation and continuous improvement.
9. We will promote active sharing of data products, datasets, and data workflows to enhance the value of our data through collaboration.
10. We will foster data governance policies and procedures that promotes the ethical use of data, reduce bias, and reflect the highest core values of our organization.
11. Ultimately, data, data analytics, data models, and data products are only an enabler. We will be open to what the data tells us that we may not have seen before; to which we will apply common sense and wisdom in the use of data, in informing decisions, strategies, policies and our actions.
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