Whitepapers, Posters, Podcasts, and Articles

Whitepapers: Primary author, Gwen Thomas

• “The DGI Data Governance Framework” (PDF)
  The DGI Data Governance Framework is a logical structure for classifying, organizing, and communicating complex activities involved in making decisions about and taking action on enterprise data. This whitepaper describes the framework in detail and describes how its components are used in different types of Data Governance programs.
  
  
• “FAQs About The DGI Data Governance Framework” (PDF)
  Frequently asked questions about The DGI Data Governance Framework.
  
  
• “Flavors of Data Governance” (PDF)
  Not all Data Governance programs are the same. Learn about six different "flavors" of programs - their goals, stakeholders, and typical initiatives.
  
  
• "Preventative and Detective Data Controls: Why Understanding Information Context is Critical for Data Governance" (PDF)
  Data Governance programs are concerned with “appropriate data usage” – ensuring that the right data is used by a person in the right role only in the right context. It is this last factor – the context in which a person accesses data – that some organizations have trouble articulating. This paper describes a Data Usage Triangle that all stakeholders – IT, Business, Security, Auditors, and others – can use to describe a specific type of data risk. It explores scenarios that demonstrate why context is key to understanding risk and interpreting questionable data usage activities. It describes how different types of controls interact with each other, as well as options for preventative and detective data protection controls.
  
  
• “Writing Enterprise-Quality Data Definitions” (PDF)
  Almost all Data Governance programs become involved in writing or evaluating the definitions of enterprise data elements. What constitutes a definition that is fit for use by the entire enterprise? This whitepaper looks at the qualities of well-written definitions.
  
  

Posters

• 11x17 DGI Data Governance Framework Poster in color (PDF)
• 11x17 Data Governance Framework Poster With Information About Setting Up a Help Desk for Data (PDF)
• 11x17 Data Governance Framework Poster Including Metadata Metamodel (PDF)

Podcasts

• Data Governance Trends, with expert Gwen Thomas. Listen to this podcast from SearchDataManagement.com, from October 25, 2006. Reporter Hannah Smalltree interviews Gwen Thomas, President of The Data Governance Institute, about trends in Data Governance.

“Compliance Options” Columns by Gwen Thomas in z/Journal These columns are written for data professionals who want options – not just demands – as they manage and govern data, while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements.

• A Four-Letter Word for Compliance (April/May 2008)
• PCI Challenges (February/March 2008)
• When Not to Be a Hero (December/January 2008)
• Embedded Compliance (October/November 2007)
• A Value Proposition (August/September 2007)
• A National Data Law June/July 2007
• The Tragedy of the Commons (April/May 2007)
• Documentation Waterfalls (February/March 2007)
• Hidden Stakeholders and You (December/January 2007)
• Protecting Sensitive Data (October/November 2006)
• GRC, Master Data, and You (August/September 2006)
• The Chicken, the Egg, and Change Management (June/July 2006)
• Avoiding Data Disasters (April/May 2006)
• Basel II and You (February/March 2006)

Articles by Gwen Thomas in z/Journal

• SOX and the Database Professional: Mainframe Compliance Issues (October/November 2005)
• SOX and the Database Professional: Top-10 Controls SOX and the Database Professional: Top-10 Controls (August/September 2005)
• SOX and the Database Professional: Setting the Stage (June/July 2005)

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