Why Inaction Feels Easier Than Action in Data Quality

2024-08-01 · Source: Modern Data 101 · Field: Technology & Digital — Data Science & Analytics, Corporate Strategy & Leadership, Operations & Process Management · Depth: Intermediate, medium

Summary

Gaurav Patole, Principal Data Strategy & Governance Advisor at ThoughtWorks and author of "Data Quality ROI," argues that organizations often fail to address data quality issues due to "Cultural Inertia." This inertia manifests as workarounds, patched processes, and data teams avoiding difficult conversations, leading to a dangerous narrative of "this is just how it works." Patole identifies latent signals of inaction, such as monthly reports taking two weeks due to manual data fixing, executives relying on "shadow experts" for accurate data, project delays over dataset disagreements, and analysts spending 60% of their time on data cleaning. To overcome this, he proposes "The Business Awakening Curve," a four-stage psychological journey from Ignorance to Action, guiding stakeholders from blaming IT to proactively designing for data quality.

Key takeaway

For VPs of Data or Chief Data Officers struggling with data quality adoption, recognize that simply stating ROI is insufficient. Your teams must actively guide business stakeholders through the "Business Awakening Curve" by exposing the uncomfortable costs of inaction and fostering a psychological shift towards ownership. Focus on demonstrating tangible impacts of poor data to move from mere awareness to proactive design and integration of data quality into daily operations.

Key insights

Organizations often tolerate poor data quality due to cultural inertia, not malicious intent.

Principles

• Inaction feels safe, action feels uncertain.
• Cultural inertia normalizes broken data processes.
• Action precedes motivation, not vice-versa.

Method

Guide stakeholders through "The Business Awakening Curve": Ignorance, Awareness, Ownership, and Action, to foster proactive data quality design.

In practice

• Identify "cleanup delays" and "shadow experts."
• Quantify the cost of inaction to stakeholders.

Topics

• Data Quality
• Data Governance
• Business Awakening Curve
• Cultural Inertia
• Data Strategy

Best for: VP of Engineering/Data, Executive, Consultant

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Modern Data 101.