Setting yourself up for success

A popular Italian song I love has a line that goes something like this: “People are known to give good advice when they can no longer set a bad example.” While I hope to continue setting the “bad example” for a long time to come, I feel I cannot leave you without a few suggestions in this final chapter—hopefully, good ones.

Be optimistic, not naïve

Managing data as products is a paradigm shift that has both technological and organizational impacts. As we have emphasized multiple times throughout the book, it is important to ensure that there is a sufficient level of sponsorship and resources before starting. Moreover, during the adoption process, it is essential to work intensively to gain buy-in from the various groups that will be progressively involved.

Change processes are inherently complex. While maintaining optimism about the success of transformation initiatives is important, it is equally crucial...