Data and Systems Governance

Data governance at Western Michigan University was established through approval of the Data and Systems Governance Policy as of September 2013.

Mission

Data and systems governance will promote effective decision-making, enable the University to align resources and projects with strategic priorities, and support the involvement of key stakeholders by the effective integration of both information systems and business practices.

Vision

Data governance will contribute to strategic and effective decisions regarding WMU's information assets. At WMU, it assumes a philosophy of freedom of access to University data by all members of the community, coupled with the responsibility to adhere to all policies and all legal constraints that govern access and use.

Data Management Association International (DAMA) Data Management Body of Knowledge Framework

Data Governance (DG): "the exercise of authority, control, and shared decision making (planning, monitoring, and enforcement) over the management of data assets and systems. How we decide to decide."—Source: Data Governance: How to Design, Deploy, and Sustain an Effective Data Governance Program, John Ladley, 2012 Elsevier Inc. (ISBN 978-0-12-415829-0)