Lesson 7 — Committees and Stakeholders
Steering Committee vs working group
Regardless of model, governance work needs senior decision forums and tactical working groups.
Steering Committee: connects Data Management to business objectives and makes/endorses important decisions.
Working group: handles tactical or subject-specific work.
Reuse existing committees when they work
An existing senior committee can reduce structural overhead, but only if Data Management receives enough attention and the body can actually make the needed decisions. A committee that gives data five minutes each quarter is not automatically fit for purpose.
Stakeholder definition
A stakeholder is any internal or external person or group who can influence or be affected by the Data Management improvement program.
That can include leaders, SMEs, employees, customers, regulators, vendors, agents, brokers, and more.
What stakeholder analysis should reveal
Analyze: - who is affected; - how roles may shift; - likely reactions and concerns; - goals and priorities; - resource dependencies; - blockers and influencers; - level of support.
Perform this early. A missing high-influence stakeholder can become a program-level risk.
Influence × interest map
- High influence / high interest → Key Player
- High influence / lower interest → Meet Their Needs
- Lower influence / high interest → Show Consideration
- Lower influence / lower interest → Lower Priority
Interest is not the same as authority. A mildly interested CFO who can block funding still requires active management.
Build durable support
Short-term willingness is not long-term commitment. Explain why the stakeholder matters and connect Data Management outcomes directly to their professional goals and responsibilities.
Source anchor: Chapter 16, pp. 532–533.