I work at a hospital and one of my primary jobs is writing reports. These reports are generated from data stored in numerous different databases and data stores our organization uses. One of our challenges is that we have so many different database platforms and incompatibal data stores that we also have a ton of different report platforms. People all get there data in vastly different ways.
I have been given the task of try to make the way our organization accesses data more organized and systematic. I want to create a committee that will help manage this task. The committee will have the following mission:
[ul]
[li]Systematically track exactly what reports are vital to our operations. Also track who uses what reports, how often etc… [/li][li]Periodically, meet with administrators and departments in order to assess information needs. What do they use to get their data, are there data needs that are not filled? Could their current data access needs be improved?[/li][li]Prioritize all data access requests and come up with a rational way to process them. (We tend to have overwhelming requests for reports…some very important and some that are somewhat whimsical. We need a way to discourage whimsy.[/li][/ul]
My question to you:
Do other organizations have people and committees that serve this type of purpose?
I don’t want to re-invent the wheel here. What do I call this committee?
Far too few. Most attempts to do this sort of thing are stymied early on by the feudal needs of departments (or their baronial managers) to “control” their own data.
Congratulations on finding a corporation that gives lip service (at least) to addressing the issues.
Condolences on being named to the group who will be treated with contempt by both the people who refuse to “surrender” their data and those who refuse to recognize that you cannot accomplish your goal without the cooperration of people who will never give it.
I don’t have a name off the top of my head.
I do have a recommendation that you involve the most powerful people in the corporation to actively support your efforts. (CEO is nice to have, but whoever really calls the shots is more important.)
(Then you could call it something like the “Mr. Smith Is Going To Make You An Offer, One That He Really Thinks That You Should Not Refuse, To Cooperate Team”.)
I would also suggest (if your sponsor has the funds to bring them in) that you hire the services of a group that has a proven track record of “managing change” or, failing that, sending your key people to some training sessions sponsored by such a group.
We’re installing a new financial system and the track responsible for this stuff is the Report Working Group. Their charter was more specific, in terms of the range of data sources, but they did analyze who uses what reports for what purposes, and then how to replicate them, with improvements for the new system.
We have the vain hope that some of the projects done as part of this overall project will be reflected in more universal business processes, and consistency across the institution, but I won’t hold my breath.
We have a Data Asset Management committee (the meetings were called “DAM” meetings, to much giggling and that got old real quick). They’re still trying to work out the kinks.