92 lines
2.5 KiB
Markdown
92 lines
2.5 KiB
Markdown
**MD file:** `Data Steward.md`
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**Estimated reading time:** 8–10 minutes
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# Data Steward
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## Definition
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A **Data Steward** is responsible for the day-to-day care, quality, definition, and proper use of data within a governed domain.
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While the [[Data Owner]] is accountable and has decision authority, the steward helps make governance operational.
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## Simple Mental Model
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> **Owner = accountable. Steward = keeps it working properly day to day.**
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## How It Works
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A Data Steward may:
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- Review quality issues
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- Maintain definitions
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- Validate classifications
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- Coordinate corrections
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- Update metadata
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- Resolve routine questions
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- Escalate policy decisions to the Data Owner
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## Example
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If the organization defines Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, and Fire TV as `Connected TV`, the owner approves that standard.
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The steward helps detect inconsistent classifications and ensures future records follow the standard.
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## How It Fits Into the Bigger Picture
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```text
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[[Data Governance]]
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↓
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[[Data Owner]]
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↓
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[[Data Steward]]
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↓
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[[Data Quality]] + [[Metadata]] + standards
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```
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## My Company / Real-World Context
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You may not need formal "Data Steward" job titles. Stewardship can be assigned to existing roles such as analysts or operations staff.
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The key is that someone is clearly responsible for routine health and consistency.
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## CTO Perspective
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Governance structures can look great on PowerPoint while nobody actually performs the work.
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Ask:
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> **Who notices when this data becomes wrong, and what are they expected to do?**
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### Questions to Ask
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- Who performs day-to-day stewardship?
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- What quality issues do they monitor?
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- What can they decide themselves?
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- What must be escalated to the [[Data Owner]]?
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- Is stewardship part of their real workload?
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- Who updates [[Metadata]] and [[Business Glossary]] entries?
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## Meeting Scenario
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**Situation:** Stewardship is assigned on paper, but data classifications remain inconsistent.
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**Possible response:**
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> "We have stewardship assigned, but the recurring issue suggests the operational responsibility isn't clear. Let's define what the steward monitors, what triggers action, and when the owner needs to be involved."
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## Key Takeaways
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- Data Stewards perform day-to-day governance.
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- Owners are accountable; stewards operationalize standards.
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- Stewardship does not require a dedicated job title.
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- Governance should be lightweight enough to actually operate.
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## Related Concepts
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- [[Data Owner]]
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- [[Data Governance]]
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- [[Data Quality]]
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- [[Metadata]]
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- [[Business Glossary]]
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- [[Data Catalog]]
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