Book of the Month: Data Governance Change Management 

Overview

Welcome to November’s “Book of the Month.”  This month, we’re looking at Aakriti Agrawal’s and Dr. Arvind Agrawal’s book “Data Governance Change Management.” Implementing a new data governance program at an organization is always a change management challenge, so let’s take a look at this particular tome, which is timely given many organizations’ obsession with realizing the benefits of new technologies, all of which benefit from mature data governance functions.

This book introduces the reader to a new perspective on change management that Agrawal calls the ANCHOR method. ANCHOR stands for aim, need, community, hooray, obstacles, and resilience. Further to this, the book provides the reader with a healthy introduction to data governance and key concepts that generally need to be implemented or supported by a data governance program throughout its lifecycle.

One aspect of the book that is immediately apparent is its emphasis on “Take a Moment” sections.  Throughout the book, Agrawal prompts the reader to reflect on and write notes about key teachings in the book. This is a refreshing addition to a book and makes it interactive and especially valuable to the reader.  As one learns about data governance and ANCHOR through the book, the extra note-taking provides an excellent north star to guide and teach the content and ground it in the reality faced by the readers’ organization. Further to this, the book highlights to the reader extra materials and resources available on the website ANCHOR Your Change.

In working with change management, the book goes into great detail on the ANCHOR method – reminding the reader to work toward a goal, effectively communicate why that’s important to others, bring in change champions, celebrate wins, discover and remove barrios, and sustain the program. There is significant literature on change management that’s been available for years, such as the venerable “Who Moved my Cheese?” What the ANCHOR method does that sets it apart is how approachable and applicable it is, especially with the complexities of data governance. Even if the reader is familiar with other change management methodologies, this book enhances that knowledge with a framework that has proven success.

One particular activity of note in the “aim” chapter is what Agrawal calls a “Data Therapy Session.”  Essentially, this activity is a series of one-on-one discussions with stakeholders where you take a moment to listen and understand the challenges they face with data. The book does an excellent job of giving the reader the exact guidance on how to get the most out of these discussions with detailed preparation notes. The discussion on the activity ends with a case study of it in action at an organization. This kind of detail is present throughout the book and is a real benefit to the reader as they apply the teachings within.

In conclusion, this book is fantastic for those who are looking to launch a data governance function, giving key insights and structure on how to nurture a successful program. Complete with prompting the reader to take notes and self-reflect, it’s not just a book but a working guide to running a highly beneficial program.

About Aakriti Agrawal and Dr. Arvind Agrawal

Aakriti Agrawal, MBA, CDMP, ADGP, is a senior manager of data governance at American Express, a Fortune 100 company. She has a Master’s degree with a focus in organizational and nonprofit change from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and has spent the entirety of her career in data management and data governance. On the side, she enjoys philanthropy work – she is a serial nonprofit founder.

She co-founded her first nonprofit, Girls Code Lincoln, which teaches middle school girls to computer program in Lincoln, Nebraska, as she was herself learning to code. Her second nonprofit, the Nonprofiting Org, provides entrepreneurial support to nonprofit founders. Through her professional and philanthropic experiences, Aakriti has demonstrated effective change leadership by generating buy-in, developing processes, and creating robust programs that grow and thrive.

She has been recognized with the Inspire Founders Award and the Emerging Young Leaders Award, has been nominated to the Forbes 30 Under 30 List, has given a TEDx talk, and serves on numerous boards of national and international nonprofits. Aakriti is a frequent speaker on topics such as data governance, change management, female representation in STEM, and entrepreneurship.

Dr. Arvind Agrawal spent over 30 years of his career as a marketing professional, working hands-on with a variety of consumers within the financial services industry in India and the Asia-Pacific region. He has led multi-million-dollar marketing budgets for multiple Fortune 500 companies, including American Express, GE Capital, and VISA International, as well as for smaller companies such as Contract Direct, Fair Isaac, and NIIT. Through these experiences, he has successfully introduced multiple financial products by focusing not just on the launch itself, but also on the culture and process changes required within the company.

After a successful professional career, Arvind chose to relive his college days and return to pursue a Ph.D. in consumer behavior, researching the factors that influence decision-making. He is now an assistant professor of marketing at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, where he shares knowledge with undergraduate and master’s students.

Arvind’s first book, “How India Found Its Feet,” shares the economic growth of India during the 1990s and early 2000s, through a collection of interviews with the people who led to the change in the economic makeup of the country, distilling the essence of their successes. Arvind frequently publishes articles on topics such as marketing, entrepreneurship, the financial industry, and consumer psychology.