Executing Data Quality Projects

Executing Data Quality Projects, Second Edition presents a structured yet flexible approach for creating, improving, sustaining and managing the quality of data and information within any organization. Studies show that data quality problems are costing businesses billions of dollars each year, with poor data linked to waste and inefficiency, damaged credibility among customers and suppliers, and an organizational inability to make sound decisions. Help is here! This book describes a proven Ten Step approach that combines a conceptual framework for understanding information quality with techniques, tools, and instructions for practically putting the approach to work – with the end result of high-quality trusted data and information, so critical to today’s data-dependent organizations. The Ten Steps approach applies to all types of data and all types of organizations – for-profit in any industry, non-profit, government, education, healthcare, science, research, and medicine. This book includes numerous templates, detailed examples, and practical advice for executing every step. At the same time, readers are advised on how to select relevant steps and apply them in different ways to best address the many situations they will face. The layout allows for quick reference with an easy-to-use format highlighting key concepts and definitions, important checkpoints, communication activities, best practices, and warnings. The experience of actual clients and users of the Ten Steps provide real examples of outputs for the steps plus highlighted, sidebar case studies called Ten Steps in Action. This book uses projects as the vehicle for data quality work and the word broadly to include: 1) focused data quality improvement projects, such as improving data used in supply chain management, 2) data quality activities in other projects such as building new applications and migrating data from legacy systems, integrating data because of mergers and acquisitions, or untangling data due to organizational breakups, and 3) ad hoc use of data quality steps, techniques, or activities in the course of daily work. The Ten Steps approach can also be used to enrich an organization’s standard SDLC (whether sequential or Agile) and it complements general improvement methodologies such as six sigma or lean. No two data quality projects are the same but the flexible nature of the Ten Steps means the methodology can be applied to all. The new Second Edition highlights topics such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, Internet of Things, security and privacy, analytics, legal and regulatory requirements, data science, big data, data lakes, and cloud computing, among others, to show their dependence on data and information and why data quality is more relevant and critical now than ever before. Includes concrete instructions, numerous templates, and practical advice for executing every step of The Ten Steps approach Contains real examples from around the world, gleaned from the author’s consulting practice and from those who implemented based on her training courses and the earlier edition of the book Allows for quick reference with an easy-to-use format highlighting key concepts and definitions, important checkpoints, communication activities, and best practices A companion Web site includes links to numerous data quality resources, including many of the templates featured in the text, quick summaries of key ideas from the Ten Steps methodology, and other tools and information that are available online

Information is currency. Recent studies show that data quality problems are costing businesses billions of dollars each year, with poor data linked to waste and inefficiency, damaged credibility among customers and suppliers, and an organizational inability to make sound decisions. In this important and timely new book, Danette McGilvray presents her “Ten Steps approach to information quality, a proven method for both understanding and creating information quality in the enterprise. Her trademarked approach—in which she has trained Fortune 500 clients and hundreds of workshop attendees—applies to all types of data and to all types of organizations. * Includes numerous templates, detailed examples, and practical advice for executing every step of the “Ten Steps approach. * Allows for quick reference with an easy-to-use format highlighting key concepts and definitions, important checkpoints, communication activities, and best practices. * A companion Web site includes links to numerous data quality resources, including many of the planning and information-gathering templates featured in the text, quick summaries of key ideas from the Ten Step methodology, and other tools and information available online.

The Data Quality Assessment Framework shows you how to measure and monitor data quality, ensuring quality over time. You’ll start with general concepts of measurement and work your way through a detailed framework of more than three dozen measurement types related to five objective dimensions of quality: completeness, timeliness, consistency, validity, and integrity. Ongoing measurement, rather than one time activities will help your organization reach a new level of data quality. This plain-language approach to measuring data can be understood by both business and IT and provides practical guidance on how to apply the DQAF within any organization enabling you to prioritize measurements and effectively report on results. Strategies for using data measurement to govern and improve the quality of data and guidelines for applying the framework within a data asset are included. You’ll come away able to prioritize which measurement types to implement, knowing where to place them in a data flow and how frequently to measure. Common conceptual models for defining and storing of data quality results for purposes of trend analysis are also included as well as generic business requirements for ongoing measuring and monitoring including calculations and comparisons that make the measurements meaningful and help understand trends and detect anomalies. Demonstrates how to leverage a technology independent data quality measurement framework for your specific business priorities and data quality challenges Enables discussions between business and IT with a non-technical vocabulary for data quality measurement Describes how to measure data quality on an ongoing basis with generic measurement types that can be applied to any situation

The Data Whisperer's practical guide to explaining and understanding the strategic value of data management. The need for data management is everywhere across your company. The value of every digitally transformative customer-facing initiative, every data science and analytics-based project, every as-a-service offering, every foray into e-commerce, and every enterprise software implementation is inextricably linked to the successful output of data management efforts. Although it is a simple function of garbage in garbage out, that slogan rarely drives any sustainable executive action. We need to tell a better data story. Data Storytelling is probably the hottest non-technical trend in the technology-related space. But it does not directly support data management because it is focused on analytics or telling stories with data. So, it is time to expand the realm of Data Storytelling to recognize the role of data management by telling stories about data. Learn how to secure stakeholder involvement and executive commitment to fund and support data management as a systematic, consistent, fundamental part of your business. This book is for: Data management leaders trying to explain your value to C-Level and business stakeholders. As a practitioner, you may already know how to fix your data, but your business leaders ignore your advice. When you explain data management to the business, they may nod "yes" on the outside, but they nod off on the inside. Business stakeholders trying to comprehend why data management is important. Many business people may be frightened, threatened, intimidated, or at the very least confused and bewildered by the techno-babble often associated with data-related conversations. If you want to know more about why data management needs to be a strategic imperative in your organization, you'll learn it here in simple terms. Data scientists looking to understand better how you connect to "The Business." A recurring struggle I hear from data scientists is the need to get "closer to business." If you are a data scientist, then you need to understand your company's data story. The more you can align your work to the core value your company delivers, the more successful you will be. This book will help you discover the essence of why data brings value to your business. Anyone interested in understanding the business value of data management. I offer simple explanations about why data management is essential for your organization. Without going deep into technical concepts and processes, I focus on the business-related outputs. I share ways you can think about what foundational data does. Its importance is vital for the future of your enterprise. Since this is a book about telling data stories, I share it through stories divided into five sections: My data story. Why I know what I know and why you should listen to me. Everyone's data story. A collection of classic, foundational data situations relevant to all enterprises. Framing your data story. A set of simple frameworks about data value. Selling your data story. Tips on creating a compelling narrative. Building your data story. Why you must align with the strategic intentions of your enterprise.

Data Quality: The Accuracy Dimension is about assessing the quality of corporate data and improving its accuracy using the data profiling method. Corporate data is increasingly important as companies continue to find new ways to use it. Likewise, improving the accuracy of data in information systems is fast becoming a major goal as companies realize how much it affects their bottom line. Data profiling is a new technology that supports and enhances the accuracy of databases throughout major IT shops. Jack Olson explains data profiling and shows how it fits into the larger picture of data quality. * Provides an accessible, enjoyable introduction to the subject of data accuracy, peppered with real-world anecdotes. * Provides a framework for data profiling with a discussion of analytical tools appropriate for assessing data accuracy. * Is written by one of the original developers of data profiling technology. * Is a must-read for any data management staff, IT management staff, and CIOs of companies with data assets.

Imagine a group of prehistoric hunters armed with stone-tipped spears. Their primitive weapons made hunting large animals, such as mammoths, dangerous work. Over time, however, a new breed of hunters developed. They would stretch the skin of a previously killed mammoth on the wall and throw their spears, while observing which spear, thrown from which angle and distance, penetrated the skin the best. The data gathered helped them make better spears and develop better hunting strategies. Quality data is the key to any advancement, whether it is from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age. Or from the Information Age to whatever Age comes next. The success of corporations and government institutions largely depends on the efficiency with which they can collect, organise, and utilise data about products, customers, competitors, and employees. Fortunately, improving your data quality does not have to be such a mammoth task. This book is a must read for anyone who needs to understand, correct, or prevent data quality issues in their organisation. Skipping theory and focusing purely on what is practical and what works, this text contains a proven approach to identifying, warehousing, and analysing data errors. Master techniques in data profiling and gathering metadata, designing data quality rules, organising rule and error catalogues, and constructing the dimensional data quality scorecard. David Wells, Director of Education of the Data Warehousing Institute, says "This is one of those books that marks a milestone in the evolution of a discipline. Arkady's insights and techniques fuel the transition of data quality management from art to science -- from crafting to engineering. From deep experience, with thoughtful structure, and with engaging style Arkady brings the discipline of data quality to practitioners."

The Practitioner's Guide to Data Quality Improvement offers a comprehensive look at data quality for business and IT, encompassing people, process, and technology. It shares the fundamentals for understanding the impacts of poor data quality, and guides practitioners and managers alike in socializing, gaining sponsorship for, planning, and establishing a data quality program. It demonstrates how to institute and run a data quality program, from first thoughts and justifications to maintenance and ongoing metrics. It includes an in-depth look at the use of data quality tools, including business case templates, and tools for analysis, reporting, and strategic planning. This book is recommended for data management practitioners, including database analysts, information analysts, data administrators, data architects, enterprise architects, data warehouse engineers, and systems analysts, and their managers. Offers a comprehensive look at data quality for business and IT, encompassing people, process, and technology. Shows how to institute and run a data quality program, from first thoughts and justifications to maintenance and ongoing metrics. Includes an in-depth look at the use of data quality tools, including business case templates, and tools for analysis, reporting, and strategic planning.

As data management and integration continue to evolve rapidly, storing all your data in one place, such as a data warehouse, is no longer scalable. In the very near future, data will need to be distributed and available for several technological solutions. With this practical book, you’ll learnhow to migrate your enterprise from a complex and tightly coupled data landscape to a more flexible architecture ready for the modern world of data consumption. Executives, data architects, analytics teams, and compliance and governance staff will learn how to build a modern scalable data landscape using the Scaled Architecture, which you can introduce incrementally without a large upfront investment. Author Piethein Strengholt provides blueprints, principles, observations, best practices, and patterns to get you up to speed. Examine data management trends, including technological developments, regulatory requirements, and privacy concerns Go deep into the Scaled Architecture and learn how the pieces fit together Explore data governance and data security, master data management, self-service data marketplaces, and the importance of metadata