Data Governance Guideposts
Visibility
Sets of processes associated with strengthening the processes and elevating awareness related to Western’s institutional data assets, the ways in which data assets can and should be used, and the information lifecycles involved. Ensuring that there are common data definitions and that those definitions are made available across platforms is essential to enabling informed data-driven decision-making. This pillar will be used to make decisions on what those definitions are and how we technically support the requirements of those definitions.
Accountability
Data leadership and stewardship are essential parts of any data governance program. Those responsible for data leadership are accountable for the integrity and quality of our data. This pillar will be used to determine who in the institution has the authority to make decisions regarding access, priorities, and data usage standards, and under what conditions those decisions can be made.
Reliability
Processes and metrics to assist in the definitions and measurements of data quality, the attendant availability of institutional data, and the usefulness of said data within a variety of strategic and tactical contexts. This pillar is concerned with optimizing data and related data analytics infrastructure and services. This pillar will be used to determine who has the authority to make decisions regarding access, priorities, and data usage standards, and under what conditions those decisions can be made.
Usability
Working through the defining, creating, storing, sharing, archiving, and destruction phases of the information lifecycle, clear documentation that outlines data timeliness, relevancy, lifespan, and usefulness will be measured via this pillar. This pillar will be used to empower our data community through data literacy, manage access to relevant and appropriate datasets, and ensure that data are used in compliance with regulatory and institutional contexts, with privacy, security, and sensitivity embedded in our processes.
