Pragmatism in Practice The human side of data
Feb 25, 2025
Tiankai Feng, Head of Data Strategy & Governance at Thoughtworks and author on data strategy, joins Sebastian Kaus, Head of Data Governance at Vattenfall, focused on net-zero emissions. They discuss the importance of humanizing data through storytelling, empathy, and creativity. Gamifying data governance is a key topic, showcasing how playful approaches can boost employee engagement. They also explore the evolution of data governance, emphasizing context and collaboration to enhance decision-making and ethical practices in data usage.
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From Analyst to Data Governor
- Sebastian Kaus, an electrical engineer, transitioned from data analysis to data governance.
- His role involves setting boundaries and building data pipelines, like creating traffic rules for data.
Context is Key
- Big data isn't just about volume; the variety of contexts presents a bigger challenge.
- Understanding what data means to different people and aligning its use requires communication.
Use Case Based Approach
- Address data challenges by starting with user pain points; use a use-case-driven approach, not a top-down program.
- Incrementally build solutions, like a data catalog, to address specific issues and improve motivation.