I had a bit of time on my way back from the DataFlux users conference to reflect on what I heard there. I say heard, rather that what was said because these are my perceptions and opinions of what was said, your opinions may differ, and please feel free to let me know if they do.
This is not a blog about the conference as a whole, Jim Harris from http://www.ocdqblog.com/ is going to publish on the conference next week, and will do a far better job than me.
Clear Theme
Starting with the fact that over 50% of the packed audience were from the business, and not ‘IT’, there was a clear theme that ran throughout the conference, and that theme centered around process and people. It was a comforting revelation to me, as I have been ranting on for a while that ‘MDM is not about the technology’ we need to get the people and process management in place as a business, technology is an enabler!
SAY WHAT! How can you ignore the technology piece?
I know I know, when you building any strategy you need to look at the business from a Organizational (people), Business (process) and Technology perspective [insert own MBA definition here]. I am being a bit blunt here, but to get Data Governance and MDM right you need to ignore Technology until you are confident that you have successfully covered off the Organizational and Business side of the triangle.
To give you an idea into my thinking the image below is representative of my scribbles, only curtailed by the size of the napkins in the airport lounge …
As I mentioned, these thoughts are my interpretation and having spoken and listened to a number of trusted experts over the last week, people like Ian Charlesworth from Ovum, Tony Fisher from DataFlux, David Loshin, and Jill Dyche and the team from Baseline Consulting, I believe that the need to focus on people and processes is high on the agenda alongside effective deployment of the ‘right’ technology.
Ah Charles, you sir are a heretic. The religion of technology as currently practiced by the priests and wizards of the church of IT will not be so easily overthrown. They have a strongly vested interest in keeping the mystery and power of their craft hidden as long as possible.
It is not for mere mortals such as you and I to be speaking to God directly, although one would think that by this time it should be a foregone exercise.
It's time I think for the 'business' to begin to withhold the tribute upon which the technologists depend until they recognize the balance that exists between their technology heaven and the real work being done on the ground.
Cheers!
John O'Gorman
jogorman@tiberon-ia.com
Why thank you sir, busy putting together part 2. More of the same, if I survive that long …
Well, well, little brother! A nice coherent analysis of what I'm sure was a fairly dry and lengthy event. At last, someone is thinking past the little blinking lights and whirring bits, to the essence of where the whole thing derailed. Process! Process! Process! Nobody has ever found the "Silver Bullet" in a million lines of code, but if you point a million lines of code in the correct direction, it may help you find it. Well put man!
Cheers
Your big Boet!
Good grief, you have to be good if your own family bothers to read your blog