It used to be, if you wanted to explain industry data standards to someone, you might start like this: “Say you wanted to share some data with somebody else, like a business partner, or a customer, or a regulator...” As time went by, this evolved a little: “Say you needed to share some data with etc etc.” For a long time sharing data was unusual and the first contact for many people came with an external requirement to share, rather than a homegrown initiative.
Today, I'm happy to say, you can start the story like this: “You know when you share some data with somebody else...” Because all organizations share data. It's the default. And everybody knows this, whether or not they're “a data person”. Why is this? Because the alternative is ridiculous. If you don't share data, what are you doing? You mean you're not communicating with any other party? Or do you mean you require people to send you snail mail? Huh? Huh?
Now, clearly there are still gaps in information flow where parties do not communicate the data that would make their lives easier or would grow their business. But these gaps are becoming more conspicuous – and less acceptable. Thank goodness sharing is the default. Thank goodness we all now expect to base our business activities on good quality data. The world is much better off for the progress we've made.
Comments