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Data Governance

Data governance is the set of policies, processes, roles, and standards that define how data is managed, maintained, and used across an organisation. It establishes who is responsible for data quality, how data should be defined, who can access it, and how it should be maintained — creating the organisational framework that ensures data assets are managed as a controlled, trustworthy resource rather than an unmanaged byproduct of operations.

Why This Matters

Data governance is the organisational infrastructure that makes reliable reporting possible at scale. Without it, data quality degrades as the organisation grows: definitions diverge, ownership becomes unclear, and the same data produces different results depending on who processes it. Effective data governance prevents these problems by establishing clear standards, assigning clear accountability, and creating the processes needed to maintain data quality over time.

Where This Fits

This term sits within the Data Governance & AI Readiness area of Performance & Control.

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