Data Governance: Why It’s Critical and How to Get Started

Based on a recent webinar featuring Murdio co-founder Łukasz Banaszewski, this article explores how organizations can bring order to their data chaos and build a strong data governance strategy. With years of experience in data intelligence projects, Banaszewski provides practical insights into making data governance an asset rather than a burden.

Understanding data governance

“Data governance is an agreed-upon way within an organization to document data and establish standards and rules for how to share this data between teams,” explains Banaszewski. While the term might sound technical or restrictive, effective data governance is about creating clarity and enabling collaboration rather than imposing rigid control.

When and why should organizations implement data governance?

If you’ve ever struggled with inconsistent reports, duplicate data sources, or compliance headaches, it’s probably time to consider data governance. Implementing a governance framework ensures that data is accurate, secure, and easily accessible.

Key signs that your organization needs data governance:

• Your teams rely on conflicting reports for decision-making.
• You face growing regulatory compliance challenges.
• Data silos prevent departments from working efficiently.
• Your organization struggles with maintaining data integrity.

Building a strong business case for data governance

Convincing leadership to invest in data governance means demonstrating its direct impact on business efficiency, risk reduction, and profitability. Here’s how you can build a compelling case:

• Show the cost of bad data: Studies show that poor data quality costs companies millions annually. Eliminating inefficiencies through governance translates to real financial gains.
• Tie it to compliance: Regulatory bodies demand transparency. Having structured governance in place makes audits and compliance efforts far more manageable.
• Highlight business impact: A well-structured data governance framework supports sales, marketing, and operations by ensuring access to reliable data.
• Prove quick wins: Start with small, impactful initiatives, like improving data quality for a critical department, to demonstrate value early.

The dual value proposition of data governance

According to Banaszewski, data governance brings both immediate and long-term benefits. “We can divide these values into two categories,” he notes. “There are direct, short-to-medium-term benefits, and then there are indirect, long-term strategic gains.”

1. Immediate and measurable benefits

Organizations implementing data governance see rapid improvements in key areas:

• Better data quality: Clear ownership and validation processes enhance accuracy.
• Increased trust: Employees can easily find and use reliable data.
• Elimination of data duplication: Prevents redundant reports and inefficient processes.
• Compliance readiness: Simplifies regulatory reporting and audits.

One of our clients, for example, successfully implemented a data catalog, enabling teams to quickly find and access business-critical data, reducing duplication and improving collaboration.

2. Long-term strategic value

Beyond quick wins, organizations that adopt a structured approach to Data Governance position themselves for long-term success:

• Standardized data stewardship: Establishes clear ownership across teams.
• Operational efficiency: Encourages collaboration between business and IT.
• Improved business insights: Reliable data translates into better strategic decision-making.

“Over time, data governance fosters efficiency. While it’s hard to measure immediately, organizations that invest in governance see improved collaboration and streamlined business processes,” says Banaszewski.

Data governance is more than just technology—it’s a cultural shift

One of the biggest mistakes organizations make is treating data governance as purely an IT initiative. In reality, it’s a company-wide mindset shift.

• Governance is a team effort: While leadership drives it, everyone in the organization plays a role in maintaining data integrity.
• Encouraging a data-driven culture: Employees need to see data as a valuable business asset rather than a technical requirement.
• Clear communication and training: Data governance should be embedded into workflows, not treated as a separate function.

Where to start to avoid common pitfalls

Data governance can feel overwhelming, but starting with a focused, step-by-step approach makes implementation manageable.

Steps to ensure a smooth rollout:

• Define clear objectives: Align governance goals with business priorities.
• Secure executive support: Leadership buy-in is crucial for success.
• Start small: Choose a high-impact area for an initial pilot project.
• Use the right tools: Platforms like Collibra streamline governance workflows.
• Make training a priority: Ensure employees understand and adopt governance best practices.

How to align business and technical teams using Collibra

Many organizations struggle with fragmented data management across multiple platforms. Without a centralized governance system, teams waste time searching for accurate information. At Murdio, we specialize in implementing Collibra, a leading data intelligence platform that helps organizations:

• Unify data catalogs: Centralizing metadata across all business units.
• Enhance AI-assisted documentation: Speeding up the process of documenting data.
• Enable cross-team collaboration: Helping business users and IT work together seamlessly.

“Collibra allows business users to understand and trust their data while IT teams ensure compliance and security—all within the same system,” says Banaszewski.

Final thoughts on data governance

Data governance isn’t just a compliance requirement—it’s a strategic investment in an organization’s future. Companies that take a structured approach to governance enjoy better operational efficiency, stronger business insights, and a competitive advantage.

This article is based on a webinar featuring Łukasz Banaszewski. For more insights on data governance and Murdio’s expertise, visit us on LinkedIn or check our website for regular updates.