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    Flow-alerta.cab

    Data Governance

    Application & enablementControl and supervision of data
    Editorially reviewed on: 1 source
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    The short answer · 17 words

    In short

    Data governance determines who decides on data, what principles apply and how responsibility and control are organised.

    Flow-alerta.cab (2026): Data Governance. https://flow-alerta.cab/en/glossar/data-governance. Editorially reviewed on: 10 October 2026.

    How much detail would you like?

    Practical

    Clear governance improves reliability, protection, discoverability and usable quality of data. It prevents conflicting definitions and makes decisions and exceptions comprehensible.

    For the indicator "active customers", professional owner, definition, source, quality rule, access rights and approval process are defined.

    SMEs start with critical data objects, name those responsible and document few binding rules. A regular data board clarifies definitions, accesses, quality and priorities.

    At a glance

    Core
    Data governance is the decision-making and responsibility framework for the effective, value-creating, secure and compliant handling of data. It defines roles, principles, decision-making rights and control. Operational data management implements these specifications in processes and systems.
    Use
    Clear governance improves reliability, protection, discoverability and usable quality of data. It prevents conflicting definitions and makes decisions and exceptions comprehensible.
    Example
    For the indicator "active customers", professional owner, definition, source, quality rule, access rights and approval process are defined.
    Limits
    Confuse governance with bureaucracy or a tool, assign roles without decision-making power, centralize everything or just look at compliance. Rules must fit the risk and the organization.

    Questions about this term

    Governance or management? Governance sets direction and control; management executes. Do you need a tool? No, tools can support catalogues, roles and evidence. Who is responsible? Technical and technical roles shall be clearly identified.

    All details and background

    Data governance is the decision-making and responsibility framework for the effective, value-creating, secure and compliant handling of data. It defines roles, principles, decision-making rights and control. Operational data management implements these specifications in processes and systems.

    ELI5 – Explained simply

    It is the house rules for data: who is responsible, what is allowed, how is quality checked and who decides in the event of problems?

    Why it matters in practice

    Clear governance improves reliability, protection, discoverability and usable quality of data. It prevents conflicting definitions and makes decisions and exceptions comprehensible.

    Example

    For the indicator "active customers", professional owner, definition, source, quality rule, access rights and approval process are defined.

    Pitfalls and limits

    • Confuse governance with bureaucracy or a tool, assign roles without decision-making power, centralize everything or just look at compliance. Rules must fit the risk and the organization.

    Origin & history

    Data governance evolved from corporate and IT governance as well as data quality and data protection requirements. ISO/IEC 38505-1 classifies the governance of data as an area of IT and organizational governance.

    Use in mid-sized companies

    • SMEs start with critical data objects, name those responsible and document few binding rules. A regular data board clarifies definitions, accesses, quality and priorities.

    Related terms

    • Data management
    • Data Steward
    • Data catalogue
    • Data quality
    • Information security

    Matching Flow-alerta service

    TrainingData and AI governance: Develop role models, data policies, decision-making pathways, quality controls and traceable documentation.

    Matching tool / use case

    View use casesOpenMetadata, DataHub or Collibra as supporting tools; Use Case: document responsibilities and quality rules for customer and order data.

    Sources

    • www.iso.orgISO, ISO/IEC 38505-1:2026 „Governance of data“ (Abruf 04.10.2026)

    Quellenprüfung: 10.10.2026. Definition und dokumentierte Einordnung abgeglichen; Beispiele beschreiben mögliche Anwendungen.

    Editorially reviewed on:

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