{"id":3507,"date":"2023-03-17T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-17T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/members.dataiq.global\/article\/dataiq-members-briefing-is-your-cdo-helping-to-set-the-vision\/"},"modified":"2024-02-14T11:51:26","modified_gmt":"2024-02-14T11:51:26","slug":"dataiq-members-briefing-is-your-cdo-helping-to-set-the-vision","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.dataiq.global\/devstage\/articles\/dataiq-members-briefing-is-your-cdo-helping-to-set-the-vision\/","title":{"rendered":"DataIQ members briefing \u2013 Is your CDO helping to set the vision?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Complement the business strategy\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the first things a DataIQ member from a SaaS provider mentioned was that, in their experience, being able to tie the data strategy into the business strategy<\/a>. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t separate, it was embedded,\u201d the member said. \u201cPart of the core component of that was explaining the value proposition, what the data analytical team was doing and supporting the strategy \u2013 showcase what their purpose is.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

When proving the purpose of the data team vision and aligning it with the wider business strategy, one member said, \u201cIt isn\u2019t talking about technology, it isn\u2019t about platforms nor talking about data literacy or data governance, it is about the outcomes we are trying to achieve for the business using data analytics.\u201d By focusing the storytelling on what the ambitions are and how they can be achieved, it is much easier for non-data professionals to understand how is complements the wider business strategy.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

There has been a huge upheaval in business strategies since the pandemic and the impact of this can be used by data leaders to highlight data benefits. One participant discussed how their business had grown year on year and this continued throughout the pandemic, but the CRM journey was non-existent. \u201cWe had realised about four years ago that we needed to embark on a CRM journey,\u201d said the member. \u201cBut it was seen as a tech project, not a data project, and that made it a bumpy ride.\u201d The member went on to explain how the organisation viewed data as an issue that seemed to hinder the technology-focus project rather than help it, until the leadership team realised the CRM was not providing the results they wanted.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The member continued: \u201cI went around all 242 people within the organisation \u2013 all levels, all roles \u2013 and had a semi-structured formal discussion around their understanding of data and vision. Following this, we designed strategies that were data driven<\/a>, insight led and formed a three-year strategy that followed a roadmap to maximise data as an asset. This has created an insight-driven culture and modernised working operations. We have been on that journey ever since; we are showing the results and we are now being invited into the rooms for decision-making.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Work with decision makers\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the hardest parts of leading a data office, particularly for a data immature business or legacy organisation that does not fully understand data, is developing weighting with the key decision makers. DataIQ members have discussed previously about maintaining attention<\/a> once it has been captured and keeping a seat at the big table, and it is essential that CDOs utilise their position to show how data can benefit all areas of an organisation.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

One roundtable participant discussed how they made an active choice to work as closely as possible with the strategic people in the organisation as regularly as possible. \u201cI would be asking everyone that devised strategy questions like \u2018what\u2019s the three-year or five-year plan?\u2019 and slowly integrating myself into those bigger discussions,\u201d said the member. To further cement themselves into the strategic group, the member also stated how they would offer to provide help with reports and developing wider understandings of data within the business.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Questions that should be asked to maintain conversations and involvement in organisation-wide projects include:<\/p>\n