The Need for and Value of Data Governance

Abstract

Higher education leaders feel like they have a data problem. It may not be a new problem, but it feels like it is a growing problem, an accelerating problem. There is so much more data now, everywhere. Units across the institution are daily implementing specialized applications it seems. Internet enabled things-doors, cameras , parking meters, you name it, are by the second generating ever-expanding amounts of data. The university's data architecture is becoming more and more complex. Where's the data? In the Cloud! Who's Cloud? What Cloud? It feels out of control. And maybe it is. Vendors will certainly tell you it is and will readily sell you their solution-but you have to buy now before the quarter ends! Is this more hype and fear? Before we succumb to the fear and buy into the hype, let's step back, take a slow breath or two, and ask: what do university leaders perceive their data problem to be? What do university leaders want from their data? It depends on who you ask.