Effective Data Governance - by Nicola Askham

About the Book

Use this step-by-step guide to prepare, design and implement a simplified data governance programme built to meet the needs of your organization.

Book Synopsis

Build a clear, practical data governance programme that strengthens data quality, reduces risk and improves decision making.

Effective Data Governance is a hands-on guide for mid-career data professionals, analysts, and managers who need to design a data governance approach that is both achievable and aligned to business priorities. Written by leading data governance expert Nicola Askham, this step-by-step resource simplifies the complexity of data governance and shows you exactly how to create a programme that delivers consistent, high-quality and trustworthy data across your organization.

Focused on practical delivery rather than theory, the book walks you through planning your governance approach, building a fit-for-purpose framework and writing policies that teams can actually use. It also explains how to identify roles and responsibilities, resolve data quality issues, manage risk and measure progress with the right controls and metrics.

You'll learn how to:
- Build a tailored data governance framework that fits your organization's needs
- Define roles, responsibilities and processes that improve data quality and accountability
- Address data risk, controls and quality challenges with practical tools
- Monitor progress with clear metrics and embed governance into day-to-day operations

With real-world examples and straightforward guidance, Effective Data Governance equips mid-career professionals with the tools to build a governance programme that improves data integrity, supports better decision making and enables long-term business performance.

Themes include: data governance, data quality, data risk, governance frameworks, data management, data analytics

Review Quotes

"Nicola Askham has managed to write the definitive text on data governance. It covers every established element of the discipline in a highly practical way and introduces new ideas which other writers will want to quote and build upon for years to come. This book carries the personality of the author in a way which is very engaging, with her honesty about mistakes that she learned from, and her clarity on what works and what doesn't, giving the book real gravitas."-- "Robert Hawker, Data and Analytics Consultant, Meloro Limited and author of Practical Data Quality"

"Nicola Askham is an expert in her field and has helped many companies set up their data governance functions from the ground. All her knowledge is now found within Effective Data Governance. This book is a must read for anyone new to data governance or wanting to enhance their data governance function."-- "Shaymoly Mukherjee, Data Leader, Guardian News and Media"

"Nicola Askham is one of the most prominent and brightest voices in the data governance space-a true pioneer who has shaped how we think about governing data in the modern world. When she says she wished she had this book when she started in data governance, I couldn't agree more. I wish I had it too! This is the one-stop shop for everyone who wants to get started or improve their data governance in today's fast-paced, data-driven landscape. Whether you're a seasoned data professional or just beginning your journey, Askham breaks down complex governance concepts into practical, actionable insights that you can apply immediately. This isn't just another theoretical framework-it's a real-world guide from someone who's been in the trenches and knows what actually works. Truly a must-read for everyone who works in data."-- "Tiankai Feng, author of Humanizing Data Strategy"

"Nicola Askham's Effective Data Governance is a triumph; an indispensable guide that transforms a complex discipline into a clear, actionable journey. Askham takes the reader through every aspect of building a data governance program that will actually work. Her writing is crisp, her insight hard-won and her commitment to clarity shines through in every chapter. From the brilliant chapter summaries to the real-world examples, she delivers on every promise. Askham's six principles (opportunities, capability, custom-build, simplicity, launch and evolve) are both memorable and transformative. Effective Data Governance is a masterclass from the queen of data governance herself, earning five stars from me, without hesitation."-- "Dr Joe Perez, data analytics expert, best-selling author and international keynote speaker"

"I love how Nicola Askham has broken Effective Data Governance down into three distinctive parts, which makes the whole process easy to follow. Her vast knowledge and experience shines through in her explanation of data governance and its relationship to other areas of data. I love her practical approach, tools and real-world examples, to make data governance easy to implement in your own organization. I am also happy to see data quality discussed; while it's not the same as governance, the two work hand in hand, and this book will be a great resource to help keep your data dirt-free."-- "Susan Walsh, Founder & MD, The Classification Guru Ltd"

"Many data governance efforts fail from over complication with too many 'shoulds' and 'musts.' Nicola Askham addresses this issue head-on in a succinct and clearly presented fashion. Her six principles need to be pasted in your cubicle."-- "John Ladley, author of Data Governance"

"You need a coach, whether you are new to the data game or a seasoned pro and Nicola Askham is the one you want! Now, given the intense focus on Artificial Intelligence, there has never been a more critical time to read Effective Data Governance."-- "Scott Taylor, The Data Whisperer"

About the Author

Nicola Askham, known as "The Data Governance Coach", has over two decades of experience in helping organizations understand and manage their data better through simple and custom-designed data governance programmes. She runs training courses on all elements of data governance and provides consultancy for numerous businesses, non-profits and government agencies. She is the host of The Data Governance Podcast and was previously a board member and director of DAMA UK. She lives in London, UK.