Sixth in the “Tools for Data Governance” series. In the previous post, we explored how metadata management connects data dictionaries, glossaries, and catalogs into a coherent ecosystem. This time, we turn to the people who make that ecosystem work. Technology provides the structure, but people provide the care, attention, and decision-making that keep data reliable…
Fifth in the “Tools for Data Governance” series. In earlier posts in this series, we explored three key tools that underpin effective data governance: Each of these tools delivers value on its own. But their true power emerges when they’re connected through metadata management – the practice of collecting, organising, and maintaining information about data…
Fourth in the “Tools for Data Governance” series. So far in this series, we’ve explored data dictionaries (the technical foundation) and business glossaries (the shared language that gives data meaning). Together, they bring clarity and consistency to how data is defined and understood. But as institutions grow and data becomes more distributed, the challenge shifts…
Third in the “Tools for Data Governance” series. In the first two posts in this series, we explored data dictionaries – what they are and how they’re used in practice. Data dictionaries provide the technical backbone of data governance, detailing where data lives, what it looks like, and how it behaves. But technical definitions alone…
Second in the “Tools for Data Governance” series. In our first post, we explored what a data dictionary is and how it fits within a wider data governance framework. This time, we turn to the practical side, how data dictionaries are used, and the tangible benefits they bring to complex organisations such as universities. A…
First in the “Tools for Data Governance” series. When people talk about “data governance tools,” they often jump straight to data catalogues or enterprise-wide platforms. But before those came along, there was the humble data dictionary, the quiet workhorse that keeps organisations speaking the same data language. What Is a Data Dictionary? A data dictionary…
You can have the best dashboard, the clearest definitions, and the most carefully governed dataset — but if your data setup only works as long as a specific person is around, or a specific tool behaves as expected, then it isn’t future-proof. Things change. People leave. Systems evolve. If we want our data to stay…
Mention “data governance” in a meeting and you’ll usually see people brace for impact. It’s not the most exciting phrase, and it often sounds like something for big teams with formal committees and glossy PDFs. But governance isn’t about paperwork. It’s about making sure the effort you’ve put into improving your data doesn’t quietly fall…
Once you’ve started making your data more usable and understandable, the next step is knowing whether you’re making progress. That’s where metrics come in. We’re used to measuring performance in higher education. But we rarely measure the quality of the data behind those performance measures – and that’s often where things go wrong. Good data…
It’s easy to forget that the dashboard is only the end of the journey. If you want meaningful insight, you have to start much earlier – with the raw data. Refining data doesn’t mean building the perfect model or learning a new tool. Often, it’s about getting a solid grasp of what your data actually…
