Operational and risk-based
Data Governance vs Value-Driven Data Governance
Data Governance
Value-Driven Data Governance
Entrepreneurial, business-outcome focused
Use case 1
Low Maturity & Low Value Potential
The organization is currently at an early stage of data governance maturity, with foundational elements either missing or ad hoc. The low value score suggests that even where governance exists, it’s not yet aligned to business priorities or creating visible impact.
Use case 2
High Maturity & Low Value Potential
The organization developed a relatively mature governance structure, but the current activities are not delivering meaningful business value. This often happens when governance focuses too heavily on control and compliance, rather than enabling business strategy.
Use case 3
High Maturity & High Value Potential
The organization
shows strong maturity and high potential to drive strategic outcomes. Governance capabilities are not only in place, they are well-aligned to your transformation priorities, and quick wins are already within reach.
Data Governance
Purpose: Ensure control, quality, and compliance
Mindset: Operational and risk-based
Criteria:
Defined roles and responsibilities (owners, stewards)
Standardized data lifecycle processes (create/change/delete)
Improved data quality and accuracy
Compliance with internal and external regulations
Increased operational efficiency and trust in data
Reduced data silos and inconsistencies
Value-Driven Data Governance
Purpose: Use data to create value
Mindset: Entrepreneurial, business-outcome focused
Criteria:
Data aligned with business strategy and KPIs
Prioritized governance based on use case value (growth, cost, ESG)
Supports transformation programs (ERP, AI/ML, M&A)
Drives innovation and decision-making with trusted data
Measures business impact (time to market, revenue, risk mitigation)
Enables cultural change through data literacy and enablement
Data Governance lays the foundation. It focuses on defining roles, ensuring data quality, and maintaining compliance. It answers the question: Is our data reliable, consistent, and secure?
Value-Driven Data Governance builds on that foundation to unlock business value. It aligns data efforts with strategic priorities, empowers innovation, and enables better decision-making. It answers a more ambitious question: How can our data drive growth, efficiency, and competitive advantage?
While Data Governance is about compliance and operational risk management, Value-Driven Data Governance is about impact and value.
From Managing Data to Monetizing It