Every data team is different, but successful data teams have some things in common: an open culture of collaboration, a diverse and complementary set of skills and experience, a clear engagement model for clients and other stakeholders, and a challenging and varied work environment. Additionally, companies need to embed data skills across their entire organization, supported by centres of excellence.

We’ll help you design the right data function for your organization that balances the need to create a vibrant centre of excellence with the desire to democratize data broadly. Guided by your overall data strategy, we’ll provide the following guidance:

• Organizational model: Recommendations on how to balance a centralized team with distributed capabilities, identifying which skillsets and competencies to focus on with the central team and which to distribute more broadly. Guidance on whether to organize a central team functionally (i.e. by job role) or by subject area, focused on stakeholder engagement, or a hybrid of the two.

• Engagement model: How to engage with key stakeholders (consumers of data) and partners in deliver (such as engineering or finance teams) to deliver effective results.

• Team competency model: A framework for identifying the skillsets required for the projects the central team needs to take on, and which skillsets should be built in stakeholder teams. Resourcing/recruiting guidance for identifying and securing these skills effectively.

• Career development and growth plans: Career models for the different professionals within your data team, with clear guidance on how to develop careers to the next level.