In building a Data Governance Structure, we are looking to build a "Data Governance office" lead by a CDO, in more recent discussions a CDAO (Chief Data & Analytics Officer) and CDAIO (Chief Data and AI Officer) have arisen. What role is industry moving to to run a data governance office/program?
Sort by:
Gartner does a CDO survey every year, and one of the key deliverables of the CDO role, year after year, is creating and supporting a data governance function.
I would see no need to muddy the waters by adding a new title, such as CDAO or CDAIO, into the mix. Analytics and AI are both data use cases, and should fall under the scope of any competent CDO.
We have a "Data Office" that reports up through the COO. This office is responsible for Data Literacy, Governance, Privacy, M/L, Data Catalog, and some advanced analytics as well. There is no named CDAO / CDO / CDAiO, but the Data Office clearly owns these functions.
Thank you for your response. As we construct our "Data Office" we are looking at aligning a Data Manager, seniro data analyst, chief data steward, system architect, Change Manager, Privacy & Ethics, etc... any additional roles you have?
we have a Product Owner for Alation (our data catalog), data scientists, data viz experts, data coach, the persons who manage the day-to-day governance processes, Directors over these functions, etc.
The industry is moving towards more integrated roles like the Chief Data and Analytics Officer (CDAO) and even the Chief Data and AI Officer (CDAIO) to lead data governance offices or programs. The traditional Chief Data Officer (CDO) role has evolved from mainly overseeing data management to encompassing analytics and, more recently, artificial intelligence, reflecting the broader scope of responsibilities in data-driven decision-making and strategy.
The CDAO role merges the responsibilities of a traditional CDO and Chief Analytics Officer (CAO), emphasising not just data management but also analytics value creation and business impact delivery. This shift is driven by the increasing importance of data and analytics in strategic decision-making and operational efficiency. The role of a CDAO is increasingly seen as crucial due to its potential to create synergy between data management and analytics, although challenges such as balancing IT and business demands, as well as navigating organisational structures, can impact their effectiveness.
On the other hand, the emerging role of CDAIO or Chief AI Officer signifies an even broader scope, encompassing not only data and analytics but also the strategic use of AI technologies to drive business innovation and transformation. This reflects the growing importance of AI in leveraging data assets beyond traditional analytics, influencing business models, operational processes, and competitive strategies.
Organizations considering the establishment of a data governance office should consider the evolving landscape of data leadership roles. The choice between a CDO, CDAO, or CDAIO should align with the company's strategic vision, data maturity, and the specific challenges and opportunities it faces in data management, analytics, and AI implementation.
The industry trend suggests a move towards more integrated and strategic roles (CDAO or CDAIO), which combine data governance with analytics and AI to align closely with business objectives and drive significant value from data assets
Great insight, thank you, does your organization have multiple roles or is one role shouldering the load? i.e. Most organziations started with a CDO, so did you onboard a CDAIO to support or did you transition the CDO into a CDAIO role?
Listen to your peers and stick with that CDO model and built out a research and analytics branch that will specialize in USING quality data.