Who are the data management leaders of the future? As I look toward my retirement from the role of President and CEO of ACORD, I'm optimistic about the future for data as a resource. ACORD has always been a strong voice for the value of data, the importance of sharing data, and the competences needed for good data management. I think the next generation of leaders will not need the same level of education about the benefits of data. But they may need more help in understanding the obstacles in the way of success.
It's a conundrum. Before, people in management were often hazy about data and not always able to appreciate the asset nature of data. But they were very aware of the difficulty of coordinating activities in a complex environment, and the challenges of managing change. Now things have switched around. People are comfortable with data because they have been interacting with it, producing it, and consuming it, all their lives. And maybe it's because they have a close affinity with the world of data – a realm of smooth interaction, instant results, and intuitive progress – that they are less aware of the issues around human processes. By which I mean, getting things done with, by, and for, people.
So I'm generalizing widely here. I'm drawing a caricature. The picture I'm drawing is a product more of industry comment and anecdotal evidence – maybe even prejudice – than science. But that's okay, because what I'm concerned with is the way the rhetoric is running. Received wisdom has it that the leaders coming up are technology savvy but organizationally limited. If there's any truth to this, then it's our duty to do something about it.
I don't mean we should spray cynicism all over everybody – tell them how difficult it is to get anything done “in the real world”. I'm all for simplifying processes, reducing bureaucracy, spreading empowerment. Organizations need to change in order to deal with change. All I'm saying is we need to look for leaders who don't just appreciate the value of data, but who are also people people. And this is a very positive message, because there are many more of these balanced individuals around then there used to be.
Comments