Data management communications include the policies, strategies, roles and respon- sibilities, plans, and mechanisms for informing all relevant stakeholders about data management in an e ective and timely manner. The importance of data management communications cannot be overvalued, both for establishing an e ective program and to support and improve data management capabilities, which are heavily dependent on collaboration across the organization.
Promulgation is the act of formally proclaiming or declaring a new statutory or admin- istrative policy after its enactment. In many organizations, promulgation is necessary before a policy can take e ect. Promulgation of data management standards, policies, and processes should be addressed through established policy management mecha- nisms and incorporated into the communications strategy of the organization.
For some stakeholders and organizations, communications channels can be
more e ective if they include in-person events (e.g., regular meetings, structured workshops, town hall events, etc.). The mechanisms, frequency, and timing of commu- nications should be defined as part of the data management communications strategy. In addition, communications that require action or a response are more likely to be e ective when they come from senior management.
To ensure that the organization can achieve its objectives, promulgation of policies, standards, and processes must be established in advance of the target adoption date and commencement of compliance checks. A feedback process should be established to support stakeholders’ questions, recommendations, etc. Measurement of the e ec- tiveness of the promulgation process can be assessed through the use of adoption metrics.
Published policies, standards, and other guidelines should be readily available to members of the organization. Often this is accomplished through a centralized electronic library. The library must be maintained to ensure that assets are kept up to date, and a method should exist whereby updates can be e ectively communicated to impacted stakeholders. The appropriate communication may be as simple as publishing a notice, or more comprehensive, such as a training session.