Data Governance as a Force Multiplier

On a personal basis I have traveled the circle from Data Governance is a good thing……because it is, through it is not really required and is just an additional cost and delay in the process of using data to a position where Data Governance is an enabler in gaining value from the data an organisation collects etc. The case study will look at the effect of governance for its own sake and then look at how organisations and the British Army in particular are using Data Governance to derive value.

In the case of the Army the presentation will look at the differences in approach between and organisation that is seeking to monetise or gain additional profit from its data to an organisation that is seeking to gain addition effect. The Army will seek to gain additional effect from its tax pounds and when operating in an operational context to use the information it gains to multiply its effect on the ground. There will also be a nod to the requirements for all Armed Forces operating in a Joint or multinational environment to combine their data to increase their effectiveness and the Data Governance required for that.

Michael Servaes is a career Royal Artillery officer who has commanded at all levels up to Regimental Command in barracks and deployed on operations. He has served in Germany and the U.K on operations in the Balkans, Iraq and with the UN peacekeeping in Cyprus. He has also visited a number of other countries as a part of his service. Originally a field Artillery officer he has also served with Air Defence units and on the staff has been an Arms Controller, led the redesign of the Artillery soldier career structure and led the study into the future of UK Armoured training a project worth £10 Bn. His back ground in information comes from leading the design and creation of Business Intelligence Competency Centre for the Army. He has been the CDO for the Army working to establish a data governance structure that supports the Army and enables the Army to begin to fully exploit its information. He was a founder member of the MIT CDO Forum and is a founder member of the International Society of CDOs. He is a frequent speaker on data associated matters and the cultural change that such initiatives must bring, especially to organisations which have a strong history behind their culture and behaviours.