Adaptive Data Governance: The AT-EASE Change Management Approach - Data Governance: Creating Value from Information Assets - page 172

awareness of the AT-EASE approach and associated systems thinking
tools and practices to a point where such ideas and techniques are rou-
tinely embedded in organizational practice. However, AT-EASE is a gen-
eral model of learning that is independent of specific data governance
issues being implemented at a given time. Investing in a learning foun-
dation can support all subsequent data governance efforts. Further, the
model is intuitive and easy to use, thus making it more feasible to integrate
it routinely in organizational practice.
The discussion and examples highlighted some key relationships that
are central to the AT-EASE model. However, many other possible relation-
ships can be considered. As an example, the link between trying and seek-
ing is an important relationship that is significant for adaptive leadership.
If leaders are committed to fostering employee ownership, it is important
to create a holding environment that frames the issues and invites people
into dialog. It is possible for leaders to narrow down the choices and do the
problem setting themselves and focus on realizing early wins. Such imple-
mentations can be successful, but may not result in employees wanting
to engage in data governance and taking greater responsibility. In other
words, strengthening “AT” creates “EASE.”
This chapter also illustrated how elements from other approaches can be
deeply embedded in constructing the AT-EASE model. The vocabulary of
adaptive leadership including ideas such as adaptive challenges, produc-
tive zone of disequilibrium, holding environment, regulating distress, and
maintaining disciplined attention, was integrated throughout the chapter.
Thus AT-EASE offers a flexible structure to integrate a variety of ideas into
a coherent model that can be shared and discussed with diverse stakehold-
ers. Other models of change management may provide useful ideas as well
that can be integrated into the AT-EASE model.
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Ciborra, C. 2004. Encountering information systems as a phenomenon. In The social study
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