Data/Information Maturity Assessment

FragenzeichenpuzzleAssessing data maturity is like wondering if you have the appetite for data and information improvement! I have spent much time with many organisations either subtly or blatantly assessing their level of data and information maturity. Quite a thankless task in many ways, since you have to “ask” so many questions and people get rather edgy. They especially get edgy in a crowd – I see their eyes roll from side to side, that early panicked look settle on their faces and their mouths snap closed! For who wants to be the person in a group of colleagues who says “Oh our data/ information/ processes/ security/ privacy is an issue”?

So I went back to the office, totally frustrated and irritated at my failure to extract meaningful information that would drive my client along the right path! I didn’t even ask, rather I demanded the “app gurus” build me a self-assessment tool, one I could provide to clients without having to “be there” nagging them to answer me! They had to be able to do this in the comfort of their own office. I couldn’t be looking over their shoulder and nor could their colleagues.

I also asked my colleagues to help me set up a list of questions I wanted answered as well as identify the level of maturity each answer should generate. Problem solved – about 3 weeks later I had an app that worked and around 80 questions I needed answers to.

So what is next? Well, this is the fun part – that is persuading people to take the assessment that is quite long if you consider 80 possible questions.

FAQ’s

  • Yes, your data is completely safe and secure. I am the only person with access to it outside of yourself
  • Yes, you can do this assessment piece by piece. Just log back in when you have time
  • No, there is no time limit, feel free to answer as you have availability
  • Yes, as soon as you have completed all sections and answered all questions you will see your report – immediately
  • Yes, I can aggregate your company’s assessment into one overall assessment
  • Yes, you can take this assessment again in 6 months time; and again and again over however long you want
  • No, I won’t share your information with anyone without your express written permission
  • No, there is no charge for doing this assessment

What do I get out of it?

  • Firstly I get to help my clients understand their maturity in a non-threatening, non-invasive way
  • I also get some industry details that allow me to begin benchmarking you the client against other companies in your industry vertical
  • I get to understand your maturity and how best I can help you on the journey to data and information excellence
  • I get to send you a report detailing what I see in terms of your assessment and briefing you on some next steps
  • If I am lucky, you want to see me to discuss further and I get to engage with you on this
  • I am a “dataholic” so I get to play with new data!

Would you like to try the assessment and see for yourself? Click on the link, register by signing up and go wild: http://eventsspace.net/events/datamaturity. Please don’t forget to complete the post-assessment section to help me identify how to improve this! And email me at sue.geuens@epiuse.com if you have questions for me. I am looking forward to seeing your results!

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Sue Geuens

Sue Geuens

Sue Geuens CDMP, MDQM started in Data Management during 1996 when she was handed a disk with a list of builders on it and told they were hers to manage. Sue mentions this as fate taking over and providing her with what she was "meant to do". Various data roles later, her clients numbered 3 of the top 4 banking institutions in SA, a number of telco's and various pension funds, insurance companies and health organisations. Sue was the initial designer of data quality matching algorithms for a SA built Data Quality and Matching tool (Plasma Mind). This experience has stood her in good stead as she has slowly but surely climbed the ladder in Southern Africa to become the first CDMP in the country. Sue worked tirelessly on starting up DAMA SA with the successful Inaugural meeting in February of 2009. She was unanimously voted as President just prior to this event. From that time on Sue has been the leader and driving force of the DAMA SA Board. Sue was the DAMAI VP Operations since 2011 and was voted in as the DAMA I President in 2014. She is a sought after presenter and has been a prominent speaker at EDW, DMZ, EDBI, DMDG, CDO Forums and various DAMA chapters since 2006. Her thought-provoking presentation on Practical Data Governance has sparked interest all over the world and she has been asked to return to a number of countries to meet with key clients on this topic.

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