Challenge
A mid-sized city with approximately 500,000 residents and 5,000 employees aimed to become a fully data-driven organization. Leadership sought to integrate data analysis into core business processes to improve decision-making, compliance, and operational efficiency across departments.
The city faced challenges including inconsistent data practices, lack of standardization, limited real-time data access, and insufficient documentation. Achieving a culture that embraces data for continual improvement and optimization required a structured approach to governance, strategy, and staff adoption.
Solution
A comprehensive assessment was conducted using a tailored Data Governance Maturity Model based on the DGI Framework, designed specifically for public sector needs. The assessment measured current governance maturity, identified gaps in policies, responsibilities, and tools, and highlighted opportunities for immediate improvements.
Following the assessment, SDI developed a Data Strategy and Governance Plan, including foundational policies, procedures, and standards. The program included a roadmap for long-term implementation, change management guidance, training programs, and AI readiness evaluation, ensuring adoption across departments and fostering a culture of data-driven decision-making.
Services Delivered
- Data Governance Maturity Assessment and Gap Analysis
- Development of a Data Strategy and Governance Plan
- Business Strategy Alignment Confirmation
- Data Quick Wins Memo
- Data Stewardship Plan
- Data Inventory and Catalog
- Data Roadmap and Implementation Plan
- Budget, Resources, and Skills Planning for Data Governance
- Data Quality Management Plan (monitoring, security, privacy, audit, compliance)
- Change Management Strategy and Plan for Data Governance
- AI Assessment
- Data Governance Training Program
- Enterprise Data Platform Procurement Requirements for Legacy Data Application Replacement
Benefit
The program provided the city with a clear understanding of its current data governance maturity and actionable recommendations for improvement. Immediate “quick wins” enhanced data standardization, accessibility, and documentation, improving operational efficiency across departments.
The long-term Data Strategy and Governance Plan positioned the city to adopt a truly data-driven culture, integrating insights into decision-making, optimizing processes, and ensuring compliance and data security. The initiative also established a foundation for AI adoption and future enterprise data platform enhancements.
