This post provides a comprehensive maturity model for assessing Technical Infrastructure within an organization. It covers four key dimensions: Governance Tools, Data Integration, Metadata Management, and Automation Level. Each dimension includes specific questions to evaluate the technical capabilities supporting data governance.
Assessment Overview
The following sections assess the organization’s technical infrastructure for data governance, focusing on tool utilization, data integration, metadata management, and automation. Each question includes maturity levels (1 to 5) with evaluation guidelines to determine your organization’s current state.
Dimension 1: Governance Tools
Focuses on the utilization of tools to support data governance.
1.1 Is a data catalog used?
Level
Description
Evaluation Guideline
Level 1
No usage.
No usage exists.
Level 2
Limited usage.
Limited usage occurs.
Level 3
Basic usage.
Basic usage exists.
Level 4
Regular usage.
Regular usage occurs.
Level 5
Systematic usage.
Systematic usage is proven.
1.2 Is there an MDM (Master Data Management) tool?
Level
Description
Evaluation Guideline
Level 1
No tool.
No tool exists.
Level 2
Informal tool.
Informal tool exists.
Level 3
Basic tool.
Basic tool exists.
Level 4
Standardized tool.
Standardized tool exists.
Level 5
Advanced tool.
Advanced tool is proven.
1.3 Are tools integrated enterprise-wide?
Level
Description
Evaluation Guideline
Level 1
No integration.
No integration exists.
Level 2
Limited integration.
Limited integration occurs.
Level 3
Some integration.
Some integration exists.
Level 4
Mostly integrated.
Mostly integrated tools.
Level 5
Fully integrated.
Fully integrated tools are proven.
1.4 Is training on tool usage provided?
Level
Description
Evaluation Guideline
Level 1
No training.
No training exists.
Level 2
Informal training.
Informal training occurs.
Level 3
Basic training.
Basic training exists.
Level 4
Regular training.
Regular training occurs.
Level 5
Comprehensive training.
Comprehensive training is proven.
1.5 Do tools contribute to real-time management?
Level
Description
Evaluation Guideline
Level 1
No contribution.
No contribution exists.
Level 2
Limited contribution.
Limited contribution occurs.
Level 3
Some contribution.
Some contribution exists.
Level 4
Mostly contributes.
Mostly contributes to management.
Level 5
Fully contributes.
Fully contributes is proven.
Dimension 2: Data Integration
Focuses on the integration and accessibility of data sources.
2.1 Are data sources integrated?
Level
Description
Evaluation Guideline
Level 1
No integration.
No integration exists.
Level 2
Limited integration.
Limited integration occurs.
Level 3
Some integration.
Some integration exists.
Level 4
Mostly integrated.
Mostly integrated sources.
Level 5
Fully integrated.
Fully integrated sources are proven.
2.2 Is access to integrated data easy?
Level
Description
Evaluation Guideline
Level 1
No access.
No access exists.
Level 2
Limited access.
Limited access occurs.
Level 3
Some access.
Some access exists.
Level 4
Mostly accessible.
Mostly accessible data.
Level 5
Fully accessible.
Fully accessible data is proven.
2.3 Is the integration process standardized?
Level
Description
Evaluation Guideline
Level 1
No standardization.
No standardization exists.
Level 2
Informal standardization.
Informal standardization occurs.
Level 3
Basic standardization.
Basic standardization exists.
Level 4
Mostly standardized.
Mostly standardized process.
Level 5
Fully standardized.
Fully standardized process is proven.
2.4 Is integrated data used for governance?
Level
Description
Evaluation Guideline
Level 1
No usage.
No usage exists.
Level 2
Limited usage.
Limited usage occurs.
Level 3
Some usage.
Some usage exists.
Level 4
Mostly used.
Mostly used for governance.
Level 5
Fully used.
Fully used for governance is proven.
2.5 Is real-time integration possible?
Level
Description
Evaluation Guideline
Level 1
No integration.
No integration exists.
Level 2
Irregular integration.
Irregular integration occurs.
Level 3
Regular integration.
Regular integration occurs.
Level 4
Some real-time.
Some real-time integration exists.
Level 5
Fully real-time.
Fully real-time integration is proven.
Dimension 3: Metadata Management
Focuses on the system for creating and managing metadata.
3.1 Is metadata created?
Level
Description
Evaluation Guideline
Level 1
No creation.
No creation exists.
Level 2
Limited creation.
Limited creation occurs.
Level 3
Some creation.
Some creation exists.
Level 4
Regular creation.
Regular creation occurs.
Level 5
Systematic creation.
Systematic creation is proven.
3.2 Is metadata standardized?
Level
Description
Evaluation Guideline
Level 1
No standardization.
No standardization exists.
Level 2
Informal standardization.
Informal standardization occurs.
Level 3
Basic standardization.
Basic standardization exists.
Level 4
Mostly standardized.
Mostly standardized metadata.
Level 5
Fully standardized.
Fully standardized metadata is proven.
3.3 Is metadata searchable?
Level
Description
Evaluation Guideline
Level 1
Not searchable.
Not searchable.
Level 2
Limited searchability.
Limited searchability exists.
Level 3
Some searchability.
Some searchability exists.
Level 4
Mostly searchable.
Mostly searchable metadata.
Level 5
Fully searchable.
Fully searchable metadata is proven.
3.4 Is metadata regularly updated?
Level
Description
Evaluation Guideline
Level 1
No updates.
No updates exist.
Level 2
Irregular updates.
Irregular updates occur.
Level 3
Some updates.
Some updates occur.
Level 4
Regular updates.
Regular updates occur.
Level 5
Real-time updates.
Real-time updates are proven.
3.5 Is metadata used for analysis?
Level
Description
Evaluation Guideline
Level 1
No usage.
No usage exists.
Level 2
Limited usage.
Limited usage occurs.
Level 3
Some usage.
Some usage exists.
Level 4
Mostly used.
Mostly used for analysis.
Level 5
Fully used.
Fully used for analysis is proven.
Dimension 4: Automation Level
Focuses on the degree of automation in governance processes.
4.1 Are governance tasks automated?
Level
Description
Evaluation Guideline
Level 1
No automation.
No automation exists.
Level 2
Limited automation.
Limited automation occurs.
Level 3
Some automation.
Some automation exists.
Level 4
Mostly automated.
Mostly automated tasks.
Level 5
Fully automated.
Fully automated tasks are proven.
4.2 Are automation tools used?
Level
Description
Evaluation Guideline
Level 1
No tools.
No tools are used.
Level 2
Informal tools.
Informal tools are used.
Level 3
Basic tools.
Basic tools are used.
Level 4
Standardized tools.
Standardized tools are used.
Level 5
Advanced tools.
Advanced tools are proven.
4.3 Does automation improve efficiency?
Level
Description
Evaluation Guideline
Level 1
No efficiency.
No efficiency exists.
Level 2
Limited efficiency.
Limited efficiency occurs.
Level 3
Some efficiency.
Some efficiency exists.
Level 4
Mostly efficient.
Mostly efficient automation.
Level 5
Fully efficient.
Fully efficient automation is proven.
4.4 Is the scope of automation expanding?
Level
Description
Evaluation Guideline
Level 1
No expansion.
No expansion exists.
Level 2
Limited expansion.
Limited expansion occurs.
Level 3
Some expansion.
Some expansion exists.
Level 4
Regular expansion.
Regular expansion occurs.
Level 5
Systematic expansion.
Systematic expansion is proven.
4.5 Does automation operate in real-time?
Level
Description
Evaluation Guideline
Level 1
No real-time.
No real-time operation exists.
Level 2
Irregular operation.
Irregular operation occurs.
Level 3
Regular operation.
Regular operation occurs.
Level 4
Some real-time.
Some real-time operation exists.
Level 5
Fully real-time.
Fully real-time operation is proven.
How to Use This Model
Use the evaluation guidelines for each question to assess your organization’s maturity in technical infrastructure for data governance across all dimensions. Identify gaps in tool usage, data integration, metadata management, and automation levels, then take steps to progress toward higher maturity levels by adopting advanced tools, standardizing processes, and increasing automation for real-time governance.
The author has lived and breathed the life of a data steward for years, wrestling with data to keep organizations on track. Through countless hours of consulting—both giving and receiving advice—learned one thing: explaining and leading data governance is no easy feat.
