CIO OPINION a data-driven environment also demands soft skills : consulting experience , the power of persuasion , firstclass communication skills and the foresight to see how change affects all . These points are imperative as Gartner notes that many CDOs have faced resistance in creating a data-driven culture – usually due to data showing that the old and known way might not be the best way .
Should a CDO be internally promoted , or be brought in ? It seems that with the onus on being a change
51 % of executives at Fortune 1000 firms think that a successful CDO must be brought in externally to bring in a fresh perspective . agent within the company , having a fresh perspective trumps a CDO working their way up through the ranks . According to NewVantage Partners ’ survey , 51 % of executives at Fortune 1000 firms think that a successful CDO must be brought in externally to bring in a fresh perspective , compared to only 14 % of respondents holding the opposite view : that a successful CDO should be a company veteran who understands the history and culture of the organisation .
It ’ s clear that data and analytics are only going to become more influential throughout organisations in the years to come , so the role of the CDO is also going to become more pivotal throughout the change to data-driven processes . In most companies , there is significant potential for improving strategy and vision with data , and with the right technical and communication skills , CDOs will be able to redefine their strategy and analytics to bring impactful success throughout the business . p
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