Data Quality Projects and Programs

Abstract

Projects and programs are two fundamental ways of putting data quality into practice. A data quality (DQ) project includes a plan of work with clear beginning and end points and specific deliverables and uses data quality activities, methods, tools, and techniques to address a particular business issue. A data quality program, on the other hand, often spearheaded by an initial project, ensures that data quality continues to be put into practice over the long term. This chapter focuses on the components necessary for successful data quality projects and programs and introduces various frameworks to illustrate these components, including the Ten Steps to Quality Data and Trusted InformationTM methodology (Ten StepsTM). A discussion of two companies—one housing a mature data quality program, the other a more recent “DQ start-up” initiative—shows two examples of how data quality components and frameworks were applied to meet their organizations’ specific needs, environments, and cultures. Readers should come away from the chapter understanding the foundation behind the execution of data quality projects, the development of data quality programs, and generate ideas for incorporating data quality work into their own organization.