Skip to main content
HomeResourcesWebinars

Implementing A Culture To Create Data Products

Webinar

Creating data products isn't as simple as buying a tool to host your data analysis code somewhere that your colleagues or customers can see it. The culture of your data team - as well as product, design and engineering - needs to change in order to successfully launch data products.

Join Srujan Akula, the CEO of the Modern Data Company, and John Spens, the Managing Director of Data & AI Services at ThoughtWorks, as they discuss the people, process, and infrastructure initiatives to launch data products. You'll learn about which roles to hire for, who needs upskilling or reskilling, how to set up processes for pre-and post-product launch, and which technologies can assist you in efficiently developing data products.

Key Takeaways:

  • Learn how to put a data product team together.
  • Understand the data product development workflow and the processes you need for this.
  • Learn about the tools and infrastructure that can help you develop data products.

Resources

Summary

In this enlightening session, the conversation revolved around the complexities of developing data products, highlighting the human and procedural elements involved. Experts Richie, Srujan Akkola, and John Spence provided wisdom on how data products can be used to generate value for organizations. The discussion initiated with defining data products as organizational resources that provide insights beyond mere data sets, with attributes such as discoverability, security, and reusability. Examples like Customer 360 and the longitudinal health record showcased the practical applications and benefits of data products. The discussion further explored the roles central to building these products, specifically focusing on the essential role of the data product manager who connects technical and business domains. The experts discussed the significance of aligning data products with business strategies and the possible pitfalls such as scope creep and inadequate data quality. They highlighted the need for a cultural shift within organizations to treat data as a core resource, advocating for a decentralized approach to team structures. Ultimately, the session underscored the transformative potential of data products in enhancing business processes, improving customer experiences, and driving innovation.

Key Takeaways:

  • Data products should be viewed as organizational resources with attributes of discoverability and security.
  • Successful data products like Customer 360 combine data from multiple sources to provide comprehensive insights.
  • The role of data product manager is essential, requiring a mix of business knowledge, data comprehension, and management skills.
  • Aligning data products with business strategy is vital for demonstrating value and driving organizational change.
  • Common challenges include data quality problems, scope creep, and the need for a cultural shift in treating data as a resource.

Deep Dives

The Role of Data Product Manager

The data product manager is often character ...
Read More

ized as a 'unicorn' role, requiring a unique combination of skills. They must possess a deep comprehension of the business domain, the capacity to engage with technical teams, and managerial skills to coordinate project delivery. As John Spence noted, "The data product manager acts as a coordinator, ensuring that the data is represented accurately and is aligned with organizational needs." This role connects the gap between business and technology, necessitating a strong grasp of data modeling and a strategic vision for how data products can drive business outcomes.

Developing Data Products Aligned with Business Strategy

Aligning data products with business strategy is a key step in ensuring their success. Srujan Akkola stressed starting with simple business problems to demonstrate quick wins and build momentum. "Pick a specific business problem and create a thin slice end to end," he advised, highlighting the significance of demonstrating value early on. The discussion highlighted the need for organizations to view data products as integral to their strategic goals, advocating for a cultural shift where data is treated as a core organizational resource.

Common Challenges in Data Product Development

Data quality and scope creep emerged as significant challenges in data product development. Poor data quality can undermine trust and hinder the utility of data products, while scope creep can lead to projects that are difficult to manage and deliver. As John Spence articulated, "You must constantly reinforce the value of your data products to prevent them from becoming just another cost of doing business." The discussion emphasized the importance of setting clear objectives and maintaining focus to mitigate these risks.

Organizational Culture and Structure

The discussion illuminated the significance of organizational culture in supporting successful data product initiatives. A decentralized approach was recommended, where data teams are closely aligned with business units to ensure responsiveness and relevance. Srujan Akkola pointed out the necessity of having leadership buy-in and treating data as a critical business resource. The experts stressed the need to build a culture that values data-driven decision-making, with an infrastructure that supports agile and iterative development of data products.

Srujan Akula Headshot
Srujan Akula

CEO at the Modern Data Company

John Spens Headshot
John Spens

Managing Director for North America Data & AI Service Line at ThoughtWorks

View More Webinars

Related

webinar

Principles of Building Data Profitable Products

In this session, Srujan Akula, the CEO at the Modern Data Company, teaches you about what you need to do to set up the people and processes and infrastructure to create data products.

webinar

Principles of Building Data Profitable Products

In this session, Srujan Akula, the CEO at the Modern Data Company, teaches you about what you need to do to set up the people and processes and infrastructure to create data products.

webinar

Developing Data & AI Products

Sagar, SVP of Enterprise Sales and Solutions at The Modern Data Company, and Logan, Associate Director at Moody's Analytics teach you why, when, and how to create and manage data and AI products.

webinar

Increasing Your Organization's Data & AI Maturity

John Thompson, the Head of AI at EY, and Robin Sutara, a Field Chief Data Strategy Officer at Databricks, teach you how to assess your data and AI maturity, and how to improve it.

webinar

Building Data Cultures

Learn how to build a data culture from Allianz Benelux Regional CDO Sutaman T M

webinar

Unleash the Power and Profit of a Data + People Strategy

In this session, you'll find out how to drive sustainable profits by unleashing the power of a Data + People Strategy, bridging the divide with a culture of continuous innovation and feedback.

Hands-on learning experience

Companies using DataCamp achieve course completion rates 6X higher than traditional online course providers

Learn More

Upskill your teams in data science and analytics

Learn More

Join 5,000+ companies and 80% of the Fortune 1000 who use DataCamp to upskill their teams.

Don’t just take our word for it.