It’s become increasingly clear that, as states and cities rely increasingly on data, the role of chief data officer is becoming ever more important. Though they’re not ubiquitous among cities, the numbers are fast growing, and the majority of states have the position in place.

With that in mind, a new paper, “The first 90 Days As Chief Data Officer: A practical framework for new CDOs by Josh Martin, former Indiana Chief Data Officer, is particularly timely.

As Martin writes, “The first 90 days as a Chief Data Officer can make or break your tenure. You're walking into an organization with high expectations, complex political dynamics, legacy technical debt, and competing priorities. Everyone wants quick wins, but sustainable change takes time.”

His counsel for success is broken down into weeks and includes critical success factors and pitfalls to avoid. Following is his 90-day checklist for accomplishments to heighten the chances of success:

DAYS 1-30: 

• Complete 15+ stakeholder interviews 

• Document political landscape and key relationships

• Inventory existing data platforms and tools

• Identify 2-3 quick win opportunities

• Draft and present 90-day roadmap 

DAYS 31-60: 

• Deliver at least one quick win 

• Establish Data Governance Council 

• Draft and approve core data policies

• Assess team capabilities and identify gaps 

• Begin recruiting for critical roles 

DAYS 61-90: 

• Launch flagship initiative with executive sponsorship 

• Build business case for Year 1 budget  

• Present 90-day progress to leadership 

• Communicate vision for Year

• Celebrate team wins publicly

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