Dylan Jones writes in Data Quality: One Habit at a Time:
I started learning about data quality management back in 1992. Back then there were no conferences, limited publications and if you received an email via the internet the excitement lasted for hours.
Fast forward to today. We are practically swamped with data quality knowledge outlets. Sites like the Data Roundtable, OCDQ Blog and scores of other data quality bloggers provide practical ideas and techniques on an almost hourly basis.
We never lack for ideas and methods for implementing data quality management, and of course this is hugely beneficial for professionals looking to mature data quality in their organisation.
However, with all this knowledge comes a warning. Data quality management can only succeed when behaviours are changed, but to change a person’s behaviour requires the formation of new habits. This is where many projects will ultimately fail.
Have you ever started the New Year with a promise to change your ways and introduce new habits? Perhaps the guilt of festive excesses drove you to join a gym or undertake some other new health regime. How was that health drive looking in March? How about September?
The problem of habit formation is exacerbated when we attempt to change multiple habits. Perhaps we want to combine a regular running regime with learning new skills. The result is often failure.
Does your topic maps sales pitch require too much change? (I know mine does.)
Or do you focus on the one issue/problem that your client needs solving?
Sure, topic maps enable robust integration of diverse data stores but it that’s not your clients issue, why bring it up?
Can we sell more by promising less?