This text explores different perspectives on change in a data organization. Alex, the CDO, focuses on driving business value and staying ahead of market shifts, while Jamie, a data engineer, is more concerned with day-to-day challenges and keeping things running smoothly. The article emphasizes the importance of transparency, collaboration, and standardization in managing change effectively. It concludes that change management is necessary for addressing both strategic and operational issues in an organization.
Oh, You Meant “Manage Change”?
Different perspectives on change in a data organisation
In a modern office break room, Alex, the Chief Data Officer (CDO), and Jamie, a data engineer, discuss the challenges of change management. However, they have different interpretations of what it means to manage change.
Alex focuses on the big picture, monitoring market shifts and envisioning the company’s future. For her, change management is about keeping the team motivated and aligned with the company’s goals.
Jamie, on the other hand, deals with the daily challenges of keeping things running smoothly. He faces technical and human challenges, like unexpected data changes and blame games when things go wrong.
These different perspectives on change management highlight the complexities that CDOs like Alex face in driving business value and efficiency while managing change. It’s not just about charting the course, but ensuring everyone understands their role and is committed to the journey ahead.
The Strategic View: Aspirations of a CDO
CDOs like Alex prioritize driving business value and efficiency. They aim to turn data into actionable insights that align with the company’s goals. They also work towards improving operations and adopting new tech solutions.
One ambitious direction many CDOs are leaning towards is decentralization, where domain teams own and serve their data as products. This fosters a culture of self-consumption and gives more autonomy to different parts of the organization.
However, achieving these goals requires effective change management. Shifting the focus from technical tasks to business outcomes can be challenging for data professionals. Decentralization requires clear roles and responsibilities to prevent tasks from falling through the cracks.
Ground Realities: The Day-to-Day Challenges
Data engineers like Jamie face the day-to-day challenges of managing changing data chains. Data accumulates as a byproduct of various business activities, but its importance is often overlooked by those generating it. Data engineers handle the erratic behavior of data and face complex dependencies that can cause disruptions.
To address these challenges, thought leaders have introduced concepts like data products and data contracts. Data products package data for consumption, while data contracts ensure reliable service to users and address the management of change in data dependencies.
Bridging the Divide: Unifying Perspectives on Change
Transparency, collaboration, and standardization are key to bridging the gap between strategic transformation and day-to-day challenges. Clear and open communication can prevent issues, while collaboration ensures alignment. Standardization, through practices like data contracts, addresses challenges and supports the strategic vision.
Ultimately, managing change requires change management itself. By applying good change management principles, companies can address day-to-day problems and drive strategic transformation.
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