These are:

• Scope
• Governance
• Processes
• Roles & Responsibilities
• Technologies, with a very strong message to focus attention and energy on your Data Quality hotspots.

However, the killer point for any business looking to implement a data quality framework is hidden on one of the last pages of this report. FIXING YOUR DATA QUALITY ISSUES SHOULD NOT WAIT until your next Big Digital or Data Transformation programme or project comes along.  It can and must start as soon as you start to see data quality issues cropping up in your data estate.

None of this is new news and there is no reason that data quality issues cannot start to be fixed immediately.  If you have a plan of action, the right processes, and the right people in place this can begin immediately. In fact, from our experience, this does not always need any technology investment upfront to kick start it. Rather, more often the ask from the IT and Technology teams is for them to give practical and supportive help in helping fix issues not configuring or installing expensive Data Quality tooling.

An excellent starting point to create your plan of action is to start logging your data quality issues as they arise.  By using a Data Quality Issues register – basically an Excel spreadsheet will give you  this – you need to start to record details about aspects of each issue – such as who found the issue, what system(s) it impacts, how many records does it impact, whether there are any obvious compliance or regulatory implications and what are and might be the up and down stream impacts for your business etc.

The answers will only be as good as your understanding of the issue at that point in time but that does not matter as it allows you to start getting closer to establishing the root cause of each issue. Also, some issues will be identified as being separate but when you start to investigate them will show that the underlying cause may be a common one.

You will find that as you start to record Data Quality issues you will add more content to your register.  Make sure this register is visible to those involved in fixing the data quality issues and if you have a data forum ensure that it is a standing agenda item.  It is great to be able to share with stakeholders the number of Data Quality issues that have been opened, closed, and are in progress on a regular basis.  It also helps demonstrate empirically to stakeholders where the real data quality issues exist within your business.  This will help dispel many myths and theories within your business as to where the underlying Data Quality issues exist!

Also, the good news is that adopting this approach will help show that fixing your data quality does not require a large budget or wait for senior management to approve.  These activities can be done almost by stealth within the business and under the radar of a wider data programme (although clearly the former will inform and benefit the latter!).

Fortunately, the Oakland Group recently produced an easy-to-read guide – Data Governance by Stealth – that sets out doing a range of Data Governance tasks through such an approach and shows it can be done without the need for a bigger and so more costly data transformation project.

So armed with a clear understanding of each data quality issue from your Data Quality issues register, a small team (indeed maybe even just one individual!) who are willing and able to progress fixing these issues coupled with a little blood sweat, and tears, it can make a significant impact on improving your data quality.  For sure there will be Data Quality issues that cannot be solved using this low-cost route and require being part of a larger transformational project but many can be fixed without such management and financial overhead. By having all your issues logged on your register will help ensure that the cost-benefit of fixing more structural issues can be sized far better than before.

So for anyone scratching their head in a business where you have data quality issues and don’t really know where to start take some time out and read both the Gartner and Oakland reports.  These will give you the why, when, and how to fix many of the less complex and challenging of data quality issues that businesses undoubtedly find themselves facing.  Then, with a bit of sleeve rolled up mindset, just one or two people in an organization can make significant and sustained improvements to Data Quality and help wayward a path to fixing more complex and challenging issues. Being able to sort out these less complex issues will also help inform and guide whether spending budget on fixing the more complex issues is justified.  Also, you will have a small team that has started to learn where and what to look for at very little cost. Having seen this approach applied in a number of businesses you start to realise that you do not need as much time and energy as you might think once the root causes of your data quality issues are better understood.

Andrew Sharp is a Data Governance Expert at the Oakland Group

The post Why fixing your data quality issues shouldn’t wait appeared first on Oakland.

We have always remained focused on helping businesses move beyond the ‘silver bullet. Our data strategy programme is helping businesses achieve tangible benefit and real value through their data and analytics. This year more than before, this was a constant topic of conversation. Tools alone are not enough. The right mix of tech, a clear understanding of your processes and people who can leverage both will get you far. But stalling tech investments in the next ‘data lake’ or automated AI seem to be just as common as the compelling case study that people love to talk about.

That said, whilst many of the people we met weren’t actually CDO’s, the role or responsibilities of the role is growing in importance and awareness. The inimitable ‘data duo’ of Peter Jackson and Caroline Carruthers illustrated the point well when discussing where the role sits, and how still it can be the forgotten member round the board table – but is no less important! How (and whether) the CDO elevates fully onto the board was long debated into the evening.

Overall, we still believe the tech solutions are only part of the puzzle…but it has always been that way – the technology needs to be supported by the right process improvement and a very clear understanding of the problems you’re trying to solve.

We continue to believe that great use of data comes from getting that combination bang on….and that’s not always easy!

We’ve returned to the Oakland hub to focus on exactly that – helping our clients get more from their data and technology investments.
AND to get ready for our own ‘Think Data’ event in June….watch this space for more info!

Thanks to IQPC for arranging and looking after us: https://www.iqpc.com/events-chief-data-officer-exchange

The post News from the CDO Exchange appeared first on Oakland.

Develop the skills required to be an effective leader in an increasingly VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous) world. Learn how to navigate the business landscapes in this digital era, whilst ensuring your leadership style remains engaging and authentic.

This event is a leadership conference organised by BQF and hosted by GSK at their global headquarters. A host of thought provoking key note speakers will cover the key aspects of leadership and breakout session facilitators will provide you with practical tools and techniques to implement within your own organisations.

The focus of this conference is on developing and enhancing the skills required to be an effective leader in an increasingly VUCA world. Learn how to navigate the business landscapes in this digital era, while ensuring your leadership style remains engaging and authentic.

Key note Speakers:

Scott McArthur, Co-Founder & Professional Speaker, Sculpture Consulting

David MacLeod, OBE, Engaging Leadership

June Thomson, European Leader for Healthcare and Life Sciences Industry, IBM

Mike Turner and and Tobias Bunne, Quality Leadership

Michael Maynard, Dramatically Transform Performance

Guest speaker:

Karen Leftley: Achieving Brilliant Change

The post Oakland’s Mike Turner and Hiab’s Tobias Bunne set to speak at BQF Leadership Conference appeared first on Oakland.

The skills most in demand from firms for new recruits are data science, technological expertise and analytical and digital skills which are all vital to meet growing client demand for digital and technology focused advisory. Three quarters of respondents believed the consulting industry is better than most sectors at attracting high quality talent, but young consultants said firms needed to offer sociable hours of work and better work life balance, continued professional development as well as competitive salaries to attract the best talent.

The MCA commissioned the market research agency Savanta to conduct a member survey on its behalf to identify the key trends, challenges and opportunities facing the consulting industry.

2018 was a positive year for the industry according to the study, with 90% of consultants saying their business performance had met or exceed expectations and members estimating their consulting activity grew by 5.7% over last 12 months. The two highest growth sectors included Retail and Leisure and Transport. Business transformation, change management and digital and technology consulting were the largest service areas that most consultants were working in according to the report.

The outlook for the industry is positive in 2019 with 9/10 consultants anticipating that their organisation’s consulting activity will increase in the next 12 to 24 months and over a quarter of members believing it will increase greatly. Over 70% of consultants however believe that a general slowdown in the UK economy will impact the industry. Survey respondents noted how clients have been delaying and even cancelling projects as a direct result of Brexit uncertainty with over half of consultants (60%) saying clients have been delaying projects due to Brexit uncertainty and almost a third of consultants (31%) believe clients have been cancelling projects due to Brexit.

Members predict that increased consulting activity will be driven by projects relating to the impact of Brexit and a changing business environment with growth driven by client demand in three key sectors: Digital and Technology, Government and the Public Sector and Financial Services. Larger firms believe they will see more activity in Financial Services and Government and Public sector whereas SMEs are more positive about outlook for consulting in the Manufacturing and Retail and Leisure sectors in the same period.

In terms of future trends likely to have most impact on the industry, consultants said AI, Automation and Cyber security were like to have the most profound impact with the increasing use of these technologies growing across the sector and demanded by businesses in the UK. The biggest internal challenges for firms are increased requirements for flexible working and competing with non-consulting industries for the best talent.

Tamzen Isacsson, Chief Executive of the Management Consultancies Association said “Consultants are highly valued by clients across the UK for bringing in the smartest and best digital talent and helping to transform businesses, deliver tangible results and get better outcomes for firms. Developing top talent is not the privilege of one educational institution and this survey shows entrance to leading management consultancy firms is becoming more accessible than ever. The outlook for the consulting sector is positive this year with firms expecting an uplift in due to Brexit related activity and the constant demand for digital and tech advisory.”

Luke Cummings, Senior Consultant at Savanta, said “The story this research tells is of an industry broadening It’s horizons in order to attract and retain some of the best global talent. Routes into consulting are widening and diversifying, illustrated by a significant decline in Russell Group and Oxbridge graduates. The study reveals an industry in good health, with robust growth predications for the future. However, Brexit is a concern for management consultants, with the impact of a ‘no deal’ Brexit estimated to have an overwhelmingly negative impact on the wider UK economy.”

The post MCA highlights demand for analytical skills appeared first on Oakland.

So what might we expect?

1. Given the latest Brexit bombshell and utter lack of clarity, business leaders are growing increasingly frustrated in trying to make any sense of what is coming out of the government. Supply chain disruption and risk will be a focus for some, as will the possibility of making further cost reductions to mitigate the risk of increased tariffs. In turn, the need (and possible freedom) to explore new markets outside of the EU will stress business models, resources to effect the change, and will require product and service reconfigurations to meet new market needs – all at the speed of light!

2. Technologies are advancing at a pace and many managers are still toying with the idea that the adoption of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning will give them competitive advantage or access to new knowledge that could transform the products and services they supply. Indeed, there still seems to be more questions than answers and concerns that big programmes of change will not reap rewards before the technology moves on and becomes out-dated. However, delay could be costly if competitors are taking the plunge and gaining first-mover advantage. If you’d like to read more about our thoughts on how ‘big data’ needs to start to deliver in 2019 please click here. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/2019-its-time-deliver-richard-corderoy/

3. The latest announcement of the future of the NHS will no doubt lead to pressure across all consumers of tax-payers money to innovate in the way that services are designed, delivered and assured. The demands of demographic patterns that face many advanced economies will continue to exert pressure for change.

4. Finally, the confluence of consumer discontent and the demands of an increasingly environmentally aware public has recently yielded the intention for the EU (and the UK, in or out) to set new standards for product reliability and repair. Too many products have wear out timescales that are too short and have little or no way of being repaired. Our “throw-away” mentality is being challenged and a new “repair and reuse” economic cycle is emerging.

At the Oakland Group, we view these factors as real opportunities for managers in operations, quality and data and information management to deliver vital value to their organisations.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on the coming year which we’ll share in a new blog piece.

The post A tumultuous start to 2019 appeared first on Oakland.

The reviews are in, it’s a must have read.

John and Robert Oakland’s 7th edition of SPC shows in an excellent way that understanding of processes still matters in 21st century. The logical structure, the combination of sound knowledge and profound application experience makes this book a must-read. The fundamental concepts are easy to read, with the right level of detail and excellent new case examples, enriched with insights from Oakland’s vast experience in consulting work.

Harald Schubert, Head of Quality and Business Excellence, Bystronic Laser

The 7^th edition remains the go-to reference for the practical application of SPC, smartly updated to recognise the huge impact that quantum computing, interconnectivity, big data and artificial intelligence will increasingly have on organisations, and the inevitable need to transform business models, systems and processes at speed to retain competitive advantage.

https://www.bystronic.co.uk/en/

Vincent Desmond, CEO; Chartered Quality Institute

SPC 7th Edition excellently reflects how to take into account the variation in the way that services are delivered in the current digital era, understanding where the effort needs to be focused to make improvements in our organisations.

Carlos Vazquez, Head of Performance Management, Transport for London, Programme Management Office

The updated edition of ‘Statistical Process Control’ continues to form part of the essential reference text for anyone looking to make sense of data used in everyday business. Through revised case studies – based upon real life & wide-ranging experiences of The Oakland Group, guidance is given on a variety of statistical approaches to help assess data in a manner that avoids unnecessary complexities, enabling broader understanding of concepts that in turn support decision making, thereby enabling good business and meaningful outcomes.

https://www.quality.org/

Jonathan Davies, Group Quality Director, FireAngel plc

An essential reference point for all of those involved with process at whatever level, the latest update helps to open your eyes to the opportunities presented from the digital transformation of the 21^st century. The book neatly challenges the myth that SPC can only be applied in manufacturing with a broad range of case studies to help the reader with a practical approach; well done!

http://fireangeltech.com

Ian Mitchell, Quality & Business Improvement Director, Network Rail; Chair Board of Trustees, CQI

‘This book has always been my go-to reference for all things related to statistical process control. This latest version with its revised case studies will continue to be an essential reference for a wide range of readers teaching them how to implement statistical process control techniques for effective monitoring and management of all types of processes.’

https://www.networkrail.co.uk

Richard Allan, Director, Global Quality Assurance, Kimberly-Clark Corporation.

‘A timely update to this important book. If ‘data science’ and ‘big data analytics’ are to provide us with reliable repeatable insights then practitioners would do well to adopt the robust, well founded methods and techniques proposed in this work.’

https://www.kimberly-clark.com/en

Dr. John Beckford, Visiting Professor, Centre for Information Management, Loughborough University, Author of ‘Quality’ and ‘The Intelligent Organisation’

The post Rave reviews for John Oakland’s updated Process Control book appeared first on Oakland.

Congratulations to our client Hiab who have been awarded the prestigious Quality Organisation of the Year, in the 2018 International Quality Awards. Organized by The Chartered Quality Institute (CQI), this competitive award recognizes businesses who demonstrate a clear culture of quality in everything they do.

“When customers invest in Hiab they know they are investing in equipment and solutions created to the highest international standards. We are incredibly proud to be able to call ourselves Quality Organisation of the Year. This is a great achievement by the whole Hiab organisation” says Joakim Andersson, Senior Vice President Cranes, Haib.

The Quality Organisation of the Year Award recognises the organisation that best exhibits a culture of quality and puts it at the heart of everything they do. The jury argued their choice for awarding Hiab for its sophisticated approach to strengthening its quality function and embedding quality structures throughout their business practice. Their clear, extensive approach to quality coincided with strong growth and an increase in customer satisfaction.

The post Hiab Celebrate – Quality Organisation of the Year appeared first on Oakland.

The rapid advancements in technology have the potential to both create opportunity and drive innovation. AI/machine learning is just scratching the surface of what can be achieved through process automation and advanced customer engagement.

However, the hard facts are that most businesses live with a complex mix of technology and data. There can be a variety of systems and data which can be disparate, complex and understood by only a few. Combine this with a mix of on-prem and cloud-based computing and it is easy to see why many analytics projects are under-delivering.

As you would expect, we see both good and bad examples, with the main issues still being poor data quality with key parts of analysis and presentation stuck in spreadsheets. Poor communication between departments can also mean that invaluable external resources and insight that could add value to many areas of a business are not shared.

Looking to the future

Data governance will become an integral part of business strategy, recent Gartner research predicts through 2022 over 75% of data governance initiatives will not adequately consider AI’s potential security risks and their implications, resulting in quantifiable financial loss.

Ethics and privacy in the digital landscape are growing concerns with the advancement of AI/ML and the lack of regulation-making tech the last wild west. In the next 5 years, 30% of government and large enterprise services using AI will require the use of explainable and ethical AI (Gartner) which is why this should be considered now and form part of any businesses data strategy.

People-Centric tech

For 35 years we have advised organisations on how to put their people first and this is still the case, how does the tech impact your employees, your customers, your partners and increasingly bring purpose to your business’ role in society. Rather than building your tech stack in isolation you need to look at your business strategy and how the tech will help you achieve your business ambitions. Change should be incremental and crucially choose your tech solutions carefully. There are literally hundreds of powerful tools and systems which promise the earth but what is often overlooked is these need relevant expertise and training to succeed. This user-led environment can be challenging, and we reiterate in the data world there are no silver bullets.

Avoid Unnecessary Risk

A great place to start is by commissioning a proof of concept (POC), these are relatively cost-effective, should take a short time and will give the business assurance that the project will deliver. Often a POC will highlight areas of the project which may need developing or refining and test that a system or tech solution will work. When working through the POC it’s important to keep checking what the objectives of the project are and refining the scope. Data transformation can be hugely challenging and with so many data projects ending in disappointment, the POC is an ongoing and essential tool.

If you’re just getting started

• Take the time to understand what tech looks like now, and constantly revisit
• Define what ‘good looks like’ when using data across your business and don’t forget the people, processes, tech and behaviour
• Be realistic as to your current levels of data maturity – you may need to go back to basics
• Outline the options for how a future ‘data management team’ could operate
• Identify key areas of focus and early potential ‘proof of concept’ candidates

The benefits to the business

• By ensuring your POC is practical, value can be proven quickly
• This will help achieve senior-level buy-in and ensures the business can adapt as it becomes a more informed customer
• Alignment and improvement of underlying business processes
• Improved forecasting
• Enhanced profitability

One thing is certain, the speed and advancements in technology are here to stay and IT leaders must adopt the mindset that change is the only constant and they need to start to more rapidly advance their tech and data strategies. Tangible results can be quickly generated by generating small proof of concepts which can become business critical. However if the projects are too ambitious and run in a siloed unsupported way, they will be left gathering dusk and risk in the office of the CTO.

The post Top Management Challenges in the 21st Century appeared first on Oakland.

Big Data LDN is the UK’s largest free to attend data & analytics conference and exhibition. It is open to all and will host leading global data and analytics experts, ready to arm you with the tools you need to deliver the most effective data-driven strategy.

With content divided into comprehensive sections, you’ll have the opportunity to ask the big questions, share ideas with forward-thinking, like-minded peers, and learn from leading members of the Data community.

We will be supporting Sean Francis from Vodafone, who is talking about data excellence and data quality. Sean will be speaking on 13 November.

Big Data LDN is back for a third year and is set to be larger than ever in 2018. The two day event is essential for those with businesses wanting to deliver a data-driven strategy. Get the latest updates on Machine Learning, AI, Fast Data, DataOps, Analytics, Microservices, Governance, Customer Experience/Customer Engagement and much more.

Expect 130 speakers, 8 Theatres, Panel Debates, Use-cases and more…

Be in the vanguard of the data revolution, sign up to Big Data LDN and learn how to build a bright data-driven future for your business.

Register free here and visit our stand at the event

The post Data Quality at Big Data London appeared first on Oakland.

• The processes for contracting and managing this spend are, overall, “unclear and ineffective”
• The data on which deals have been struck has, in some cases, been flawed
• The handover of risk has been ineffective and asymmetric
• Cost has trumped quality, leading to service degradation, affecting the lives of ordinary citizens

But the push for lower overall costs does not have to be at odds with quality; the two go hand-in-hand when quality and operations are well-managed. This ambition can also be achieved when two organisations operate in an outsourcing partnering arrangement. What is required, is a robust method for contract award, preparation and in-flight operation that involves both parties with common strategic aims and objectives, based on end customer satisfaction.

Advanced Service Quality Planning (ASQP) takes the tried and tested approach used in industries such as Automotive and Aerospace, to build-in service quality from the outset. ASQP systematically brings recognised good practice to each of the six main elements that together provide the foundation for successful outsourcing:

In turn, service providers can benefit by getting better prepared for potential contract award and stress-testing the assumptions within their bids to avoid painful and costly ramp ups that were built on shaky operating model designs.

Both client and service provider can reduce risk and cost using this technique. Surely the prize is worth winning with multi-million-pound overruns reported in the press.

For more information on ASQP and how you can reduce the risks of outsourcing, contact Mike.Turner@TheOaklandGroup.co.uk

The post Is Outsourcing Worth The Risk? appeared first on Oakland.