Databases Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 50
Assessing a Data
Administrative
Program
Jennifer Little
D
ATA
ADMINISTRATION
PROGRAM
ASSESSMENTS
ARE
PERFORMED
FOR
,
'
MANY
REASONS
WHICH
DETERMINE
THE
ASSESSMENT
S
PERSPECTIVE
(
.
.,
).
I
E
INTERNAL
OR
EXTERNAL
Some of the more common reasons
include the following:
• To help keep the data administration program on track.
• To quantify and publicize the benefits of data administration.
• To help justify the existence of the data administration function during
tight financial times.
• To expand data administration in terms of its responsibilities, the
scope of the data that is managed, or its level of authority.
The goals originally established for any particular data administration
program usually take years to accomplish. In addition, it is not feasible to
try to list every day-to-day data administration task that must be per-
formed to reach those goals. Broad objectives are specified for the pro-
gram, and the subsequent day-to-day activities are expected to fall under
those objectives. It would be easy to stray from the course initially estab-
lished if several mid-course corrections were not made. A program assess-
ment provides the information required to determine where the program is
and where it is headed to make the course corrections.
Making a mid-course adjustment does not signify that judgment errors
have been made. Data administration programs are often affected by many
different organizational factors (e.g., budget constraints, customer
demands, organizational mission changes, and technological advances).
Data administrators must take advantage of the positive factors and cope
with the others as best they can. Some activities that an organization is
involved in may not be seen as traditional data administration functions. If
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