Jonathan Reichental

A wide range of tools is available that are designed to help big businesses and small take advantage of the data science revolution. Among the most essential of these tools are Microsoft Power BI, Tableau, SQL, and the R and Python programming languages.Comparing Microsoft Power BI and ExcelMicrosoft markets Power BI as a way to connect and visualize data using a unified, scalable platform that offers self-service and enterprise business intelligence that can help you gain deep insights into data.

You can’t buy a data governance program off-the-shelf. That’s actually good news. Organizations must implement a program relative to its level of interest, as well as its needs, budget, and capabilities.Even a modest effort can produce meaningful results. Glancing at all the areas in the figure below may seem overwhelming, but not all of these elements need to be addressed (certainly not at first), and there are different degrees in which each can be pursued.

In general, the definition of a data governance tool is one that assists in the creation and maintenance of policies, procedures, and processes that control how data is stored, used, and managed.No doubt, many aspects of data governance are complex, particularly in larger organizations. Fortunately, as expected from a competitive marketplace, where there is opportunity, you will find providers and their software solutions only too willing to help.

To be effective at their jobs, staff in an organization want to find the data they need quickly, and they want it to be high-quality data. This means the data needs to be accurate and current. Leaders want data to provide the basis for rich insights that enable timely and informed data-driven decision-making. ©Andrey Popov / Adobe StockThe legal department requires data to be handled by everyone in a manner consistent with laws and regulations.

This Cheat Sheet summarizes two important aspects of data governance: creating policy documents and the responsibilities of a data governance council.Creating data governance policy documentsA policy is an agreed-upon approach for guiding decisions to reach certain outcomes. Policies steer day-to-day actions in support of an organization’s philosophy, strategy, and the requirements of the marketplace, including laws and regulations.

Smart cities are well known for their ability to use data to their advantage. Any smart city worth its salt will have a solid data governance strategy. Data management is concerned with how you use data to run your organizations and make good decisions. Equally important is that you also need to ensure that agreed-on data policies and processes, accountabilities, decision structures, and enforcement rules are in place.

Technology is the heart of a smart city. But, where there’s technology, there’s data. And knowing how to manage that data in a smart-city context is absolutely essential.Cities with technology create a lot of data. With more systems and devices coming online every day, the volume of data produced, collected, and stored is growing rapidly.