{"id":7346,"date":"2023-11-08T14:47:26","date_gmt":"2023-11-08T14:47:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/members.dataiq.global\/?post_type=article&p=7346"},"modified":"2024-03-21T11:09:06","modified_gmt":"2024-03-21T11:09:06","slug":"starting-a-data-academy","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.dataiq.global\/devstage\/articles\/starting-a-data-academy\/","title":{"rendered":"Starting a data academy programme: A blueprint for success"},"content":{"rendered":"

There have been many<\/span>\u00a0thoughts\u00a0<\/span>compiled\u00a0<\/span>from the DataIQ community on why<\/span>\u00a0businesses should<\/span>\u00a0start a\u00a0<\/span>d<\/span>ata\u00a0<\/span>a<\/span>cademy, the best way to start it, the key components, challenges faced<\/span>\u00a0and approaches to measuring success.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Step 1: The trigger points for the data academy programme<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

For many organisations the trigger point may well be the need for a broader enterprise-wide transformation strategy, which may comprise objectives such as:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Digital\u00a0awareness and enablement:<\/span>\u00a0To make the entire workforce more digitally aware and equipped to navigate the evolving digital landscape.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Democratise data:\u00a0To make data accessible to all employees, ensuring that it is not just the domain of data specialists.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Building a\u00a0digital culture:\u00a0To create a digital culture within the organisation as a key driver of innovation across the company.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Upskilling:\u00a0By receiving training and knowledge through the programme, team members across organisations will be capable leveraging digital tools and technologies effectively.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Step 2: Leadership support<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

    The trigger for the programme\u00a0should\u00a0have been discussed at senior level within the company. As with all transformation initiatives,\u00a0senior level sponsorship is key. It\u00a0is beneficial\u00a0if the sponsorship comes from the budget holder\u00a0so as to\u00a0ensure there is a focus on the\u00a0return on investment (ROI).\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Securing sponsorship from more than one\u00a0senior leader can help with unblocking challenges and,\u00a0in the case of data and digital academies,\u00a0having the HR\u00a0director on board as a co-sponsor as well as either the marketing, technology or data lead is\u00a0invaluable.\u00a0It should be\u00a0possible to\u00a0push the budget out to the local units rather than holding it centrally in HR, which is often where\u00a0learning\u00a0and\u00a0development budgets typically\u00a0reside.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Step 3: Selecting the right tools<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

    Often an organisation will have a learning management system (LMS) which may be suitable for providing users with the right experience, but it is important this platform can support all the various outcomes needed for a data academy. For example, ensuring the platform supports audio and video as well as the engagement data necessary to measure success. If looking at external content (See Step 4) then it is important this can be delivered over the LMS.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Step 4: Collaboration with\u00a0external\u00a0partners<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

    Most organisations will not\u00a0have the resources or the competences to develop the content inhouse,\u00a0so\u00a0it\u00a0is\u00a0important to\u00a0leverage\u00a0external partners to create and deliver content.\u00a0The organisation should focus resources on using subject matter experts to define the skills framework which external content providers can deliver against.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Step 5: Where to\u00a0start \u2013\u00a0pilot\u00a0first<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

    If\u00a0the\u00a0programme is aiming to target the entire enterprise (or at least those that work with data\/computers) then\u00a0it should\u00a0start by targeting a specific group of employees with the goal of having a certain number of employees enrolled in the programme by a set date. This will enable\u00a0the data leader\u00a0to gather feedback and refine the programme. Consider designing learning pathways categorised as foundation, intermediate and advanced for all employees. These should vary\u00a0depending on where they are in their understanding of data, with the\u00a0ultimate goal\u00a0to ensure that everyone reaches at least the foundation level of digital\u00a0proficiency.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Start with foundational content and gradually introduce more complex topics. Expect the programme for non-data specialists to take up to two years\u00a0to complete\u00a0and work with subject matter experts to compile relevant content.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Different\u00a0target groups\u00a0should be segmented\u00a0to cater to the diverse needs of\u00a0team members, creating distinct learning pathways for non-specialists and data specialists\u00a0and\u00a0ensuring the content is relevant and aligned with the skill sets and\u00a0objectives\u00a0of each group.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Step 6: The importance of a few evangelists\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

    Any\u00a0data specialists\u00a0within the team should be a\u00a0part of the advance party.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Consider starting a data literacy programme covering soft skills such as storytelling, business partnering,\u00a0facilitating\u00a0action, data visualisation and presentation skills\u00a0\u2013\u00a0this can offer act as a precursor to the more comprehensive\u00a0data or\u00a0digital\u00a0academy.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    For the specialist team consider a more advanced menu-based journey allowing\u00a0selection\u00a0of\u00a0what initiatives\u00a0are\u00a0needed\u00a0to enhance careers. Typically, this might\u00a0include:<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Online courses<\/span><\/li>\n
    • External training<\/li>\n
    • Participation in conferences<\/li>\n
    • Guilds focused on specialised areas<\/li>\n
    • Accreditation and qualifications<\/li>\n
    • Regular events\u00a0such as\u00a0group learning<\/li>\n
    • Hackathons<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Step 7: Investment, ROI, and success metrics\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

      These data academy programmes come with a steep financial consideration, but so does getting left behind in the race to become more digitally enabled and the overall benefits that follow. The most significant expenses can often be found regarding the content licensing and the LMS. As mentioned in Step 2, having a member of the financial leadership team on board can help with the justification of these expenses. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      It\u00a0is\u00a0important to have a view on what constitutes success. Measuring the success of the programme should be an ongoing process, using indicators such as:<\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      • Tracking participation through the chosen learning experience platform<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Enrolment numbers<\/li>\n
      • Active user participation, engagement levels and social interactions within the programme<\/li>\n
      • Completion rates<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

         <\/p>\n

        Step 8: Overcoming\u00a0roadblocks<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

        There will be challenges and obstacles to overcome with a data academy. Our DataIQ leaders\u2019 community advise:<\/span><\/p>\n

          \n
        • Engage IT early:\u00a0<\/span>It is crucial to engage the IT department early in the process to ensure that technical aspects align with the programme\u2019s requirements.<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Adopt a campaign-led approach:\u00a0Implementing a marketing-style campaign with continuous communication is vital to maintain engagement and enthusiasm among participants.<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Anticipate\u00a0system glitches:\u00a0Technical issues can disrupt the data academy flow. It is essential to address such glitches, such as invitation emails going into spam promptly to minimise disruptions.<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Contextualise content:\u00a0Providing context and relevance to the content helps participants see its real-world applications.<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Bespoke\u00a0content:\u00a0In many instances, creating bespoke content pieces that delve into the world of data can be incredibly helpful.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          The journey to establish a data academy has rapidly become a key element of many companies\u2019 transformation initiatives. It is important to consider aspects such as the trigger points, conducting pilot phases, garnering leadership support, segmenting the programme and learning from challenges to ensure maximum early engagement.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

          Success is an ongoing journey and the commitment to measuring progress and adapting to evolving needs is critical to ensure any programme\u2019s long-term success.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          Organisations need to implement their own data academy to prepare for long-term success as data\u2019s place in the business world continues to rapidly evolve.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":7347,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[129,131],"tags":[369,363,370,119,295,226,367,87,368,121,304],"pillar":[195,194],"class_list":["post-7346","article","type-article","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorial","category-member-articles","tag-academy","tag-apprenticeship","tag-collaboration","tag-data-literacy","tag-data-quality","tag-education","tag-it","tag-leadership","tag-roi","tag-skills","tag-upskilling","pillar-literacy","pillar-leadership"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-21 02:49:52","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dataiq.global\/devstage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/7346","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dataiq.global\/devstage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dataiq.global\/devstage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/article"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dataiq.global\/devstage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dataiq.global\/devstage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7346"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.dataiq.global\/devstage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/7346\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dataiq.global\/devstage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7347"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dataiq.global\/devstage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7346"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dataiq.global\/devstage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7346"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dataiq.global\/devstage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7346"},{"taxonomy":"pillar","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dataiq.global\/devstage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pillar?post=7346"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}