On the night of March 24, 1944, Flight Sergeant Nicholas Stephen Alkemade, serving with No. 115 Squadron of the British Royal Air Force, faced extraordinary circumstances. His Avro Lancaster bomber came under attack from a German fighter and was engulfed in flames at an altitude of 18,000 feet. In a moment of quick thinking, Alkemade chose to jump from the burning aircraft instead of perishing in the fire. Falling without a parachute, which had been destroyed in the blaze, he plummeted toward the ground but miraculously landed in a cluster of pine trees and a thick blanket of snow, which broke his fall. Amazingly, he came out of it with only a sprained ankle, while the Lancaster crashed, killing a number of crew members. The harrowing story of Alkemade’s survival has grown into a legend, a testament to the strength of the human spirit.
So, what relevance does this tale of survival have for data governance? Believe it or not, there are significant connections. Let’s dive into the unexpected similarities between Alkemade’s daring leap a and the challenges organizations face in the complex world of data governance today.
Alkemade’s flaming Lancaster bomber is a fitting metaphor for many organizations’ data landscapes today. Chaotic, uncontrolled data proliferates across systems, threatening to consume everything in its path. Without effective governance, data spirals out of control, much like Alkemade’s doomed aircraft
A disorganized information ecosystem, full of inefficient spreadsheets, inconsistent reports, and haphazard data silos, hinders the quality of decision-making. The worst part, unfortunately, is that this data mess opens organizations up to serious risks like possible breaches of security, compliance violations, and damage to their reputation.
What fuels this chaotic environment? The answer often lies in the absence of a unified data governance framework. Organizations allow data silos to form when departments operate independently, each creating their own data systems and standards. Inconsistent data definitions, decentralized ownership, and lack of accountability amplify the problem. Data becomes fragmented; stored in different locations, labeled differently, and duplicated unnecessarily.
Organizations frequently struggle with issues arising from outdated, and in most cases, inappropriately maintained data management. Gartner estimates that organizations, because of poor data quality, are losing on average $12.9 million per year. Such losses arise from inefficiencies, lost opportunities, and the failure to leverage accurate insights. Just as Alkemade’s bomber was ultimately engulfed by flames, organizations often become trapped in the turmoil of unmanaged, chaotic data.
Alkemade’s bold leap from the burning bomber symbolizes the pivotal moment when organizations must decide how to handle their data crises. Do they hang on to outdated practices, risking catastrophe, or do they embrace change, even if it means abandoning what they already know?
This decision is not an easy one. Just as Alkemade had to trust that the snow and pine trees below would break his fall (even though he had no assurance that it would happen), organizations must trust in the process of building and implementing a lean data governance framework. The freefall represents the urgency to act; that is, whether to plummet into chaos or leap into the unknown.
Many organizations hesitate to take the leap. There are several reasons for this resistance:
These factors create a state of organizational inertia, leaving companies stuck in their burning “data bombers,” unwilling to jump.
For Alkemade, the snow and pine trees acted as a safety net that saved his life. In the world of data governance, lean data governance provides a similar soft landing for organizations looking to escape their chaotic data environments.
Lean data governance is a streamlined, agile approach to managing data. It focuses on delivering maximum value with minimal waste, enabling organizations to implement governance frameworks without unnecessary bureaucracy or complexity.
Here’s how lean data governance can cushion the fall:
Assessment and Cleanup: Like Alkemade assessing his burning parachute, organizations must evaluate their data assets. Identify unnecessary data, prune redundant sources, and consolidate scattered silos. Standardization ensures clarity and accuracy.
Roles and Responsibilities: During his bombing raid, Alkemade relied on teamwork. Similarly, organizations must assign clear roles for data stewards, analysts, and IT teams. Collaboration prevents chaos and ensures efficient workflows.
Automation and Technology: Modern tools can automate routine governance tasks, such as data cataloging, quality checks, and compliance monitoring. These technologies act as the “pine trees,” absorbing the impact of governance efforts and reducing the burden on human teams.
One of the most remarkable aspects of Alkemade's story is what happened after the miraculous survival. When interrogated by the Gestapo, they did not really believe his claim of falling from 18,000 feet without a parachute. It wasn’t until they inspected the wreckage of the Lancaster and found his burnt parachute exactly as he described that they believed him. They even issued him a certificate to acknowledge the truth.
This twist resonates with the world of data governance. Many organizations doubt the value of lean data governance. Skeptics question whether investing in governance frameworks will deliver measurable results. But like the Gestapo inspecting the wreckage, organizations need to examine the chaos of unmanaged data to see the evidence.
Data governance goes beyond mere compliance; it is essential for thriving in today's data-centric landscape. Forrester reports that organizations implementing data governance frameworks are 33% more likely to excel compared to their rivals in leveraging data for business success. Such companies are more adept at making informed decisions based on data, adapting to market shifts, and maintaining regulatory adherence.
To help organizations leap from their burning bombers and land safely, here are three practical steps to implementing lean data governance:
Start Small, Think Big: Begin with a pilot project that addresses a specific pain point, such as data quality in a critical business system. Demonstrate quick wins to build momentum and secure leadership buy-in.
Define Clear Ownership: Assign roles for data stewardship, governance oversight, and technical support. Ensure that responsibilities are well-documented and aligned with organizational goals.
Leverage Technology: Invest in tools that provide real-time data monitoring, automated compliance reporting, and metadata management. These tools reduce manual effort and improve overall efficiency.
Flight Sergeant Alkemade’s leap into the unknown mirrors the journey organizations face with their data. Just as he embraced the risk of freefall to escape disaster, organizations must embrace the leap into lean data governance to survive and thrive in today’s data-driven world.
Key recommendations for organizations include:
Ultimately, the choice for organizations could not be clearer: a descent into chaos due to unmanaged data or a leap into order with lean data governance. The question is, when faced with your organization’s data inferno, will you leap into the unknown or burn in chaos? Choose wisely.
"when a tool is not a tool, driving decisions with data"
Dr. Joe Perez is a powerhouse in the IT and higher education worlds, with 40-plus years’ experience and a wealth of credentials to his name, having been featured on multiple Times Square billboards. As a former Business Intelligence Specialist at NC State University and currently a Senior Systems Specialist/Team Leader at the NC Department of Health & Human Services (and Chief Technology Officer at CogniMind), Perez has consistently stayed at the forefront of innovation and process improvement. With more than 18,000 LinkedIn followers and a worldwide reputation as an award-winning keynote speaker, data viz/analytics expert, talk show co-host, and Amazon best-selling author, Perez is a highly sought-after resource in his field. He speaks at dozens of conferences each year, reaching audiences in over 20 countries and has been inducted into several prestigious Thought Leader communities. When he’s not working, Dr. Joe shares his musical talents and gives back to his community through his involvement in his church’s Spanish and military ministries.
