Data Culture
We can only achieve something together — that could be the motto of the data culture. Because this describes the joint handling of data, the processes used and the motivation to be data-driven.
Data culture also includes the company's ability to innovate and formulate and establish a common vision and strategy for using data.
Why do companies need data culture?
Align processes
Which data is collected where, when and by whom? The processes with which data is structured, processed and read out are the basis for every data strategy and the secure and long-term development of data in the company.
KPI alignment and data transparency
Only when all employees understand the same things under the KPIs are data-driven decisions really possible across departments. This promotes data transparency between the various data stakeholders, which in turn leads to understanding — and thus a culture of self-service and the desire to integrate data even more into one's own work.
Vision and Strategy for Data
The data culture follows the vision and strategy that is intended for data. That is why it is so important not only to have a data department that adheres to the corporate strategy, but also a data strategy to deduce which opens up a vision with which all employees feel welcomed and both supported and challenged.
Identify and implement innovations
Data culture not only includes setting up the data processes in the company cleanly, but also promoting and enabling innovations. By using data, trends and risks can be identified - in the right culture, ideas can grow and develop - this helps the company move forward in the long term.
This is how we go about establishing data culture
From data audit to strategy to establishing a common data culture — we support our customers in these important steps.
Status check — the data audit
As the first step of establishing a data culture, we first take a close look at the existing processes in a Data Audit , as well as the existing strategy, vision and the option for self-service. It is important not only to involve management, but above all to talk to specialist departments and data users.
Strategy development
Based on the results of the audit, we develop a strategic plan to improve and implement an effective data culture. This strategy contains specific goals and measures that are tailored to the company's specific needs and challenges. This includes the creation of new processes, the implementation of new technologies, but also challenging the existing data vision as well as coaching and training for employees.
Implementation of processes
The newly identified and revised processes must now be put into practice. This part of the collaboration often includes Data Organization, which define roles, structures and responsibilities. In this way, data will have a clear path to follow in the future.
Training and skills development
A healthy data culture also includes building competencies about data in the company. After all, we want everyone to be involved when using data in the company — regardless of which department or position the employees are in. Everyone in a sustainable company works with data.
Enablement and use of tools
We want the companies we advise to be able to develop themselves in the long term, which is why we enable employees to continue to drive the culture independently. At this point, it is also worth taking a look at the Data Architecture to bring the right tools to the right places in the company.
Data culture in our framework
We always work with the organization, culture and architecture framework.
Because in our opinion, these three areas are the most important factors for successfully anchoring data in the company in the long term.
Data culture is therefore one of the three pillars that are inextricably linked and interdependent. As a company, you can opt for a focus that best supports the company's goals in the short term. But it is important to always keep an eye on all areas and not to neglect any of the three pillars in order to generate long-term impact.
The Data Institute — the strong partner in establishing data culture
We want companies to quickly get an impact and see what they can do with data. At the same time, we have an overall view of the company and want to implement long-term strategies that enable employees to work with data independently.
What is a data audit anyway?
Our framework provides Data Organization, Data architecture and data culture on one level. At the core of all these elements are the business processes that make up the true value of a company. In this context, the data organization defines the 'who', the culture the 'how', and the architecture defines the 'what' in connection with data. These three pillars are closely linked and together contribute to practical applications. These use cases serve as the first steps on the way to a data-based company. They are similar to Minimal Viable Products (MVPs), which can be used to test the effectiveness and added value of the data strategy in a real corporate context. We often start at this point, develop use cases together with the company and improve them iteratively. This promotes the ability of employees to independently develop use cases and thus achieve a lasting impact — a main goal of our cooperation with companies. These aspects make our framework so valuable and effective.
Who needs data culture?
Data culture is essential in order to be able to grow over the long term, establish innovations and “think outside the box.” That is why almost all companies that work with data also need to build a strategy, vision and culture with regard to data. Even though best practices already exist and the company is the market leader, the digitized world is changing rapidly and companies must always remain up-to-date in order to remain competitive in the long term.
To ensure that all employees are involved and drive this competitiveness forward, building a data culture is essential, whether for the free market economy, healthcare, the public sector, or research and science.
And start-ups should also invest in a data culture as early as possible.
Who is involved in data culture?
Culture is established top-down. That is why it is also important with data that companies establish their vision and strategies from management to the other levels.
But how far is the company really in terms of data culture? In our work, we often notice that the management's opinion is different from that of the specialist departments or the data department. That is why we always talk to all departments affected by data when working together and thus ensure that views about the company's existing culture are aligned. On this basis, it is then possible to continue working together - although management must always set a good example.
What services can be combined withData Culture?
Case studies on the subjectData Culture
You can find suitable examples of our work on this topic in the following case studies:
Knowledge around Data Culture
In addition to case studies, we also have various blog articles on the topic:
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