Data Governance is fundamentally about how people can work together effectively to manage data and support business goals. A core pillar of any Data Governance framework is its stewardship model. 

Purpose and Context:  

Data stewards act as subject matter experts for specific data domains, ensuring data is accurate, complete, and used responsibly. They bridge technical teams, leadership, and data users, translating policy into practice. 

Why it matters:  

Before taking any action related to data, we need to know who is in charge and empowered to make decisions. The responsibilities of a data steward must be clear to the stewards themselves and to the broader community.  A clearly defined role (RACI) ensures accountability and support collaboration, making data more trustworthy and actionable. 

Practical application for users: 

• Know who the stewards are for the data you use. 

• Reach out to stewards with questions about data definitions, quality, and access. 

• Data stewards guide compliance with policies and procedures, help resolve discrepancies, and approve access requests. 

• Stewards can also provide insights into how data can be combined or analyzed to support business decisions.