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A professional-level summary covering key definitions, frameworks, and exam-relevant points.
Data Stewardship: Professional Framework and CDMP Perspective
Data stewardship is the formal accountability for managing the quality, integrity, and appropriate use of data within a defined domain. It is a core operational component of any data governance programme and is tested across multiple CDMP knowledge areas, particularly Data Governance and Data Quality.
Role Hierarchy in Data Governance
| Role | Level | Accountability | Primary Activities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Governance Council | Strategic | Enterprise-wide data governance | Policy setting, strategic direction, escalation resolution |
| Data Owner | Strategic/Tactical | Data domain fitness for purpose | Policy approval, access decisions, domain strategy |
| Data Steward | Operational | Day-to-day data quality and compliance | Quality monitoring, glossary maintenance, issue resolution |
| Data Custodian | Technical | Physical data storage and security | Database administration, access provisioning, backup |
Data Steward Typology
Business Data Stewards focus on business definitions, rules, and usage. They maintain the business glossary and resolve semantic disputes. Technical Data Stewards focus on data structures, transformations, and system integrations. Operational Data Stewards focus on data quality in operational systems, monitoring pipelines and resolving data issues in near-real-time.
Key Stewardship Activities
Core stewardship responsibilities include: maintaining business term definitions in the data catalog or business glossary; monitoring data quality metrics and investigating violations; facilitating data issue resolution across business units; reviewing and approving data access requests; documenting data lineage; and participating in data governance council activities.
Programme Implementation
Effective stewardship programmes are characterised by: executive sponsorship, clearly defined scope (start with high-priority domains), formal role charters, appropriate tooling (data catalog, quality monitoring), training and community of practice, and integration with existing business processes rather than treatment as a separate initiative.
CDMP Exam Focus
Key exam topics include: the distinction between Data Owner, Data Steward, and Data Custodian; the types of data stewards and their responsibilities; the relationship between stewardship and data governance; stewardship activities in the context of data quality management; and the components of a stewardship programme.