Information Technology Managers’ Strategies for Implementing Data Governance

As businesses increasingly view data as a strategic asset, effective data governance (DG) frameworks are crucial for ensuring data integrity and compliance. IT managers face challenges in fully integrating DG with IT governance, leading to issues like inconsistent data availability, compromised security, and costly outcomes such as data loss, legal actions, and compliance penalties. Grounded in Abraham et al.’s DG conceptual framework and Khatri and Brown’s unified DG framework, this qualitative pragmatic study investigates the strategies IT managers use to implement successful DG within organizations. A sample of 11 IT managers from U.S. companies with established DG practices participated in the study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and public organizational reports. Thematic analysis revealed eight key strategies for effective DG including (a) addressing data quality, security/privacy, and compliance challenges, (b) ensuring executive sponsorship, and (c) developing clear, targeted, case-driven strategies. Key recommendations for IT managers include treating data as a strategic asset, securing executive support by demonstrating DG value through pilot initiatives and measurable KPIs, fostering data skills across teams, and embedding DG throughout the entire data lifecycle rather than addressing it after the fact. This research has the potential to drive positive social change by helping IT managers prioritize DG to ensure high-quality, consistent data in sectors such as healthcare, finance, and retail—areas crucial for AI-driven innovations that transform industries and improve lives. Furthermore, effective DG practices protect institutions from costly fines and shield consumers from financial burdens passed down to them.