How to Create an Information Governance Program

How to Create an Information Governance Program

How to Create an Information Governance ProgramHow to Create an Information Governance Program

By Karen A. Frenkel

Establish a Project StructureEstablish a Project Structure

Grow relationships across all departments. Define project sponsors and stakeholders. Know who those people are and their roles and responsibilities.

Don't Overwhelm Your SponsorDon’t Overwhelm Your Sponsor

Don’t swamp stakeholders with additional tasks. They have a lot to do already and should focus on the tasks at hand.

Assemble the Right TeamAssemble the Right Team

Identify all of the necessary players. Senior management should endorse all team members. Every department should be represented, including business users, IT and those involved in legal, risk and regulatory.

Develop ObjectivesDevelop Objectives

Do a business-needs analysis. Figure out what types of data in your organization are key. Communication across your organization is imperative throughout the process so make sure everyone is aware of the process and its goals.

More ObjectivesMore Objectives

Determine your data owners and who loads data so you can hold them accountable. Create realistic time lines. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. For success, you must keep the momentum going.

Prioritize Future State ObjectivesPrioritize Future State Objectives

Undertake budget-friendly projects so you can show initial success. Early success is key. Funding will always be a consideration so continue to build support by communicating your successes across the organization and externally.

Keep the Organization InvolvedKeep the Organization Involved

Communicate. Communicate. Communicate. Make sure that all areas of the company are included. Socialize the initiative with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and others to get the word out about your IG initiative. Gamify the process, too.

Compile MetricsCompile Metrics

Gauge your success, identify weaknesses, communicate your program’s progress and share your findings publicly.

Leverage ExpertiseLeverage Expertise

Leverage your committee members’ expertise. Hold regular meetings to convey to everyone what each individual is doing, discuss any weaknesses and discover what is and is not working to keep the process moving.

Communicate to the User CommunityCommunicate to the User Community

Tell all your employees why IG is important. Be explicit; ambiguity is not your friend. Connect the dots for users and don’t let them do that on their own. Discuss face-to-face and encourage questions vs. hiding behind a newsletter.

Training ProvisionsTraining Provisions

Create formal training for all employees. Make it part of the onboarding process for new employees. Make training mandatory for all users.

Final AnalysisFinal Analysis

Doing nothing is not an option. Make sure you know where all your data is regardless of the intent of the data. Data is evidence. Don’t be naïve and pretend it’s not. Create a plan, communicate it and then implement it.

Karen A. Frenkel
Karen A. Frenkel
Karen A. Frenkel is a contributor to CIO Insight. She covers cybersecurity topics such as digital transformation, vulnerabilities, phishing, malware, and information governance.

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