What's in it for the data stewards?

With data waves getting complex with time, data stewards have enormous responsibility to enable, sustain and improve "trustability" of data. Positive improvements in data trustability hinges on solid data stewardship.

Three things I have seen work well when assigning stewardship responsibilities.

First, prior credibility with business leaders particularly the process owners. Second, a "what is possible" tenacious attitude with attention to detail instead of "this is how it is done here" mindset. Third, a positive personality with strong interpersonal skills. If you are a multinational or transnational organization, then an understanding of cultural specificity would go a long way in completing the profile.

Let us say your data stewards are doing a great job. What's in it for them?

Addressing the questions below can help you formulate or refine policy to reward and motivate your data steward(s):

1. Do you have a formal buy-in from Human Resources to include stewardship metrics for annual performance evaluation?

2. Is data stewardship their primary responsibility, a part-time activity or a tertiary chore?

3. Do some of the stewards receive bigger rewards arising out of higher value contribution to your organization from a particular data domain (e.g. Customer)?

4. Is there a monetary reward for significant enhancements in the trustability of your data or are you continuing with traditions of giving out certificates or acknowledgments at team meetings?

5. Are you giving them opportunities to gain visibility with company leaders and creating avenues to share their expertise and educate others?

Data stewards in your organization are unsung heroes managing your strategic asset - your data. By failing to reward them you are taking a giant first step in discounting the value of your asset. If stewards of your other assets, such as financial holdings, get rewarded for improvements in value of assets shouldn't your data stewards too?