Gartner Insights Abstract

Where CDAOs Can Improve Their Leadership Effectiveness

Published: 15 February 2024

Summary

Gartner surveyed over 100 chief data and analytics officers regarding their personal effectiveness. The initial results reveal five key insights that will help CDAOs determine where they can improve their performance over time.

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Overview

Key Findings
  • Chief data and analytics officers (CDAOs) can thrive in a variety of situations.

  • CDAOs are better at delivering against value and efficiency expectations than time-to-value expectations.

  • Top performers focus less on tactical operations than low performers do.

  • CDAOs focus on leadership, skills and culture.

  • Top-performing CDAOs empower others to improve data-driven decision making.

Recommendations

After reviewing the findings, CDAOs should:

  • Adjust for — but not be dictated by — various team size, budget, industry, tenure, and profit and loss (P&L) responsibility factors.

  • Manage expectations for time-to-value data and analytics (D&A) improvements because these efforts have a higher risk of underperforming. If possible, prioritize value and

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