The Data Playbook

12 Steps to Excellence in Managing Data & Analytics

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Benefits of the Program How the Program Works

Driving Data & Analytics: Key Challenges

Many organizations face the following challenges as they try to drive Data & Analytics forward with the organization:

Data practices are disconnected from business operations.

Data processes are immature and poorly or informally managed.

There is a shortage of skills and resources in modern data tools and practices.

Data quality is a distant afterthought in planning and prioritization.

Governing data is difficult and requires cross-functional collaboration.

Legacy solutions add complexity and make the data landscape difficult to manage.

Misaligned data practices constrain the realization of enterprise goals.

AI is moving ahead quickly, but the critical data it relies on isn’t.

  • 36%
    Only between 36-51% Data Leaders meet Executive Expectations. Data leaders and their teams are not seen as successful and are seen to be underdelivering on expectations.
  • 45%
    of data leaders seeing increasing D&A budgets.
  • 90%
    of data leaders who see data strategy as crucial for AI.

WaveStone, 2023 & 2024 and Deloitte, 2024

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Focus on These 8 Core Secrets Is Critical to Success as a Data Leader.

There is a constant stream of urgent tasks and projects, and the demand for IT work continues to escalate.

1
Focus data strategy on priority business use cases.
2
Refocus as your strategy evolves.
3
Promote data literacy to break capability silos.
4
Prioritize data initiatives first in every project.
5
Proactively govern your data to unlock value.
6
Balance scalability with interoperability.
7
Recalibrate your priorities to match enterprise realities.
8
Mature your data science and ML capabilities.
9
Drive trust with quality and maintain confidence with efficiency.
10
Deliver customer-centric data products.
11
Elevate data's value by making it actionable.
12
Critically reevaluate data services with data insights.

The Data Playbook

12 Steps to Excellence in Managing Data & Analytics

Our 12-step process has been proven across maturity levels, and each step comes with a matrix of methodologies, tools, and templates that's right for you.

Structured, Actionable, 12-Step Framework

Clear activities to delegate to your team

Customizable initiatives with measurable results

Our highest-value advisory engagements

A proven path to Data excellence

1
Jan

Data Strategy

Focus Data Strategy on Priority Business Use Cases
Execute the Data Culture Diagnostic Data Capabilities Assessment Build a Robust and Comprehensive Data Strategy Review Your Reporting and Analytics Strategy
2
Feb

Data Operating Model

Refocus as Your Strategy Evolves
Establish the Target Operating Model Needed to Execute Your Data Strategy Build Your Data Practice and Platform Sprint Toward Data-Driven Culture Using DataOps Build a Data Architecture Roadmap
3
Mar

Learning & Development

Promote Data Literacy to Break Capability Silos
Build the Data & Analytics Skills Your Organization Needs Train Your Managers on Management Fundamentals Foster Data-Driven Culture With Data Literacy Assign D&A Academy Courses
4
Apr

Data Portfolio Management

Prioritize Data Initiatives First in Every Project
Optimize Project Intake, Approval, and Prioritization Rationalize Your Data Backlog for the Year Ahead Master Organizational Change Management
5
May

Data Governance

Proactively Govern Your Data to Unlock Value
Create and Manage Enterprise Data Models Discover and Classify Your Data Establish Data Governance
6
June

Data Platform

Balance Scalability With Interoperability
Select Your Data Platform Build a Data Integration Strategy BI and Analytics Platform Selection Guide Define the Components of Your AI Architecture
7
July

Enterprise Alignment

Recalibrate Your Priorities to Match Enterprise Realities
Understand Your Reporting & Analytics Needs Review Your Data Strategy Review Your Reporting and Analytics Strategy Review Your Data Governance Review Your Data Quality Program
8
Aug

Data for AI

Mature Your Data Science and ML Capabilities
Gauge Your Exponential IT Readiness Assess Your Data Science and ML Effectiveness Define Data Practices to Power an Autonomous Enterprise
9
Sept

Data Quality

Drive Trust With Quality and Maintain Confidence With Efficiency
Benchmark Data Quality Build Your Data Quality Program Determine When You Should Use Synthetic Data Mitigate Machine Bias
10
Oct

Data as a Product

Deliver Customer-Centric Data Products
Launch a Customer-Centric Data-as-a-Product Journey Design Data as a Service Position ROI to Maximize the Impact of D&A
11
Nov

Business Insights

Elevate Data's Value by Making It Actionable
Reporting and Analytics Scorecard Enhance Your Analytics Operating Model Understand the Data and Analytics Landscape
12
Dec

Annual Retrospective

Critically Reevaluate Data Services With Data Insights
Review Your Data Strategy Establish High-Value IT Performance Metrics Build a Regular CEO Update Package
Legend
Assessments & Diagnostics
Strategy & Planning
Implementation & Training
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Benefits of the Program

Your Data & Analytics department has the potential to be the powerhouse that drives your organization to new heights. With our targeted improvement plan, you won’t just keep up – you’ll redefine the game. Let’s make Data & Analytics the catalyst for your organization’s next big success.

A Proven Methodology

A proven methodology to lead IT, serving as a consistent career guide and offering a superior alternative to ad hoc advisory engagements.

A Structured Framework

A structured framework with 12 actionable steps and eight secrets for CDAO success and value delivery.

High-Value Advisory Engagements

High-value advisory engagements that deliver tangible results and valuable experiences.

Clear Activities You Can Delegate

Clear activities you can delegate to your team with Guided Implementations and actionable best practices.

Customizable Initiatives With Measurable Results

Customizable initiatives with measurable results that align with your organizational, departmental, and personal goals, with annual proof of improvement.

How Data & Analytics Systematic Improvement Works:

Commit to your Evolution

  • Contact your Counselor to learn more about the Data & Analytics Playbook.
  • Become familiar with the Data & Analytics Playbook benefits, steps, expectations, and deliverables.

Assess your Team Performance

  • Build your Data & Analytics scorecard based on your personal success metrics and targets.
  • Conduct your Annual Data & Analytics Department Assessment by evaluating your team’s performance of each step based on your current business context and performance goals.
  • This will result in a prioritized set of steps for which to leverage Info-Tech’s support in your first year.​

Customize Your Playbook

  • Create your individual systematic improvement key initiatives plan, which will include your top 2-3 Playbook initiatives with your Counselor​.
  • Leverage Info-Tech's Diagnostics, Advisory Guided Implementations, Workshops, and Consulting experiences to customize and expedite your progress.​
  • Identify key contributors to the 12 monthly steps (direct reports) and delegate​.

Stay on Track & Accelerate

  • Quarterly, connect with your Counselor to review progress on the remaining Playbook activities and determine if you would like additional assistance with any of them.​

Celebrate Wins & Evolve

  • At the end of each year, you will review and measure your progress across each of the 12 areas through quantifiable success measures. ​
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