Strengthening Data Governance and Data Quality in Immovable Asset Management toward Digital Transformation in Public Works Department of Malaysia

As new waves of innovation reshape asset management, the digitization of immovable asset data becomes crucial for the public sector. This paper explores how emerging trends in asset management impact data quality, focusing on the strategic roles of people, processes, and technology. Public sector organizations often struggle with fragmented operations and inconsistent data management practices in immovable assets leading to challenges in maintaining high-quality data. A survey was conducted among 303 asset managers and personnel involved in asset management to gain insights into practical challenges, assessing their understanding of immovable asset management and data quality issues. The research highlights the strategic role of people as change agents, who are essential in driving improvements in data governance and data quality in immovable asset management practices. By fostering a culture of continuous improvement and embracing digitalization, these individuals play a pivotal role in improving data quality and strengthening data governance. The study identifies how human expertise, process refinement, and technological innovation can address data quality and data governance gaps. The findings emphasize that to harness the latest trends in asset management, a balanced approach is needed where people act as change agents, working alongside improved processes and technology to ensure reliable and actionable immovable asset data across the public sector.