What Is Data Governance?
A Short and Practical Guide to Managing Data Quality, Ownership, and Compliance in the AI Era
You don't need to be a tech expert to care about data governance. You need to care about decisions.
In an era where data fuels every department, dashboard, and business decision, organizations can no longer afford to "wing it." Poor data quality. Conflicting KPIs. Compliance risks. Confused teams. Sound familiar?
That's why data governance isn't just an IT topic-it's a business essential.
In this clear, insightful, and beginner-friendly guide, the book cuts through the jargon. It shows you what data governance really is, why it matters more than ever, and-most importantly-how to start applying it immediately in your organization.
Whether you're a business manager, analyst, data professional, or career switcher, this book gives you:
A plain-English definition of data governance (finally)
The key principles that make governance work-ownership, quality, access, ethics
Frameworks, roles, and real-world use cases from modern businesses
Tools and technologies that support scalable governance (from Excel to Microsoft Purview)
A step-by-step guide to launching your own governance practice
A future-focused look at AI, data mesh, real-time data, and ethical use
No fluff. No technical prerequisites. Just a practical, professional roadmap to data you can trust.
Whether your team is drowning in data chaos or just beginning to organize, What Is Data Governance? gives you the clarity and confidence to take action.
Part of the "What Is?" Series by Create and Learn
This book is part of a bestselling series built for professionals who want to understand data, analytics, BI, AI, and tools like Power BI and Excel-without needing a tech background. Short, practical, and written with real-world context in mind.