1. Create Data Strategies for the Small Enterprise
Strategy
Infrastructure
Applications
Security
For small and medium enterprises
DATA
Create Data Strategies for the Small Enterprise
Harness the power of data and drive the business to success.
Info-Tech's products and services combine actionable insight and relevant advice with ready-to-use tools and templates that cover the full spectrum of IT concerns.© Info-Tech Research Group

2. Insightful data-focused strategies are driving today’s business agendas. There is a growing gap between the exceptional leaders in each market and their market followers. Data is used in ways never before imagined, calling to action the need for relevant, complete, consistent, transparent, precise, timely, and accurate data. 
This requires an enterprise-wide approach to data management founded in business strategy. Aligning your business’s data strategies with key data management enablers will ensure that your data management practice is fit-for-business purpose and is right-sized to meet your unique business data needs.
Steven J. Wilson,
Senior Director
Info-Tech Research Group

3. Datavores and Data Builders are over
Organizations are becoming more data-driven
Data is an asset but only if the quality is high. Small enterprises must maintain high-quality data for decision making to stay competitive in today’s economy. Organizations fall into one of four different categories of data use:
Datavores and Data Builders are over
Dataphobes
Data Mixers
Data Builders
Datavores
Organization surveyed considered data manipulation the least developed skill in their workforce.
10%
Rarely use data for decision making.
Collect and combine data from multiple sources.
Require dedicated servers for big datasets.
Rely on data to make informed decisions.
more productive than Dataphobes by leveraging high data quality to:
Identify commercial opportunities.
Improve efficiency.
Create innovative products and services.
Where does your company stand on this spectrum and where would you like to be based on organizational goals?
Source: Nesta, 2015

4. Data strategies drive organizations to become Datavores
What are data strategies?
Descriptions of how the organization wants to use data to support the achievement of a business capability or strategic goal.
How can they help?
IT can improve data usage of the business by identifying key objectives and goals.
By creating data strategies using Info-Tech Research Group guidance, you can:
Save IT over
Reduce the burden on IT
Garner the support of the business
$31,000
Source: Robert Half Technology Guide, 2017
Assumptions: By focusing strictly on data management full-time DBAs gain back 30% of their time
Calculations: Salary is $90,000-$120,250 for DBA. Average is $105,125 per year. Multiplied by .3 = 31,573.5

5. Use this research to create a data management strategy
Intended Audience
Staff responsible for data governance in the small enterprise.
This Research Includes
Activities to foster a data culture.
Techniques to complete a SWOT analysis and interviews.
Guidance on how to translate an understanding of the business into data strategies.
Expected Benefits
A collective awareness from both the business and IT around the value of data.
A garnered understanding from IT’s perspective around primary business pain points in relation to data.
Feasible data strategies that will be implemented by IT.
WALK AWAY FROM THIS BLUEPRINT WITH:
An established data culture within the organization.
A clear understanding of stakeholder needs with respect to data in the organization.
An effective plan and set of steps to communicate the data strategy to stakeholders.
A prioritized data management strategy.

6. Table of Contents STREAMLINE YOUR SEARCH
Use these navigation shortcuts to find the guidance that best aligns to your critical data needs.
Section 1: Foster a data culture
Activity 1.1 Discuss peer stories
Activity 1.2 Select a business sponsor
Section 2: Identify challenges and opportunities
Activity 2.1 Perform a SWOT analysis
Activity 2.2 Conduct stakeholder interviews
Section 3: Organize and present findings
Activity 3.1 Summarize SWOT and interview notes
Activity 3.2 Map findings to strategies
Activity 3.3 Present strategies to stakeholders
Appendix
Info-Tech Research Group Company Overview
Guided Implementation Outline
Bibliography
Do you need assistance conducting interviews?
Review Activity 2.2
Is the business unaware of the role that proper data practices play in the organization?
Review Step 1
Has the business given you input on data already?
Review Activities in Step 3
Want to best identify how to present the strategy to stakeholders?
Review Activity 3.3

7. Is This Research Right for You?
Research Navigation
Info-Tech Research Group has a number of distinct blueprints designed to support clients in improving their strategic data processes. Use the questions below to help guide you to the right Info-Tech resources that best align to the outcomes you want to achieve..
Question
If you answered no
If you answered yes
Do you have less than 15 employees in IT?
Review Info-Tech’s archive of research for mid-size and large enterprise clients.
Follow the guidance in this blueprint.
Do you need to create feasible data strategies for IT and the business?
Small Enterprises – Follow the guidance in this blueprint.
Large Enterprises – Review Info-Tech’s Create a Plan for Establishing a Business-Aligned Data Management Practice.
Do you need to create a data mission statement and guiding principles for the practice?
Are you ready to solve data quality issues?
Small Enterprises – Follow the guidance in this blueprint.
Small Enterprises – Review Info-Tech’s Improve Data Quality in the Small Enterprise.
Large Enterprises – Review Info-Tech’s Conquer Data Quality Challenges in 4 Steps.

8. Info-Tech’s Data Management Framework
What is data management?
Data management is the planning, execution, and oversight of policies, practices, and projects that acquire, control, protect, deliver, and enhance the value of data and information assets (DAMA, 2009).
Info-Tech’s Data Management Framework is designed to show how an organization’s business model sits as the foundation of its data management practice. Drawing from the requirements of the underpinning model, a practice is designed and maintained through the creation and application of the enablers and dimensions of data management.

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