Data for Business Performance: The Goal-Question-Metric (GQM) Model to Transform Business Data into an Enterprise Asset

Prashanth H Southekal, PhD

Feb 2017 · Technics Publications

About this ebook

 Today, digitization is dramatically changing the business landscape, and many progressive organizations have started to treat data as a valuable business asset.  While many enterprises are investing in improved data management, only a few have leveraged data to truly impact business performance. To address this problem, Data for Business Performance provides readers with practical guidance and proven techniques to derive value from data in today’s business environment. Specifically, the book has five key elements that make it unique: 

The book is holistic, as it looks at deriving value for all three key purposes of data: decision making, compliance, and customer service. The book is for practitioners, with practical guidance and proven techniques  supported by real world examples. The book is relevant for the current business and IT landscape. The book is novel, with the adoption of the Goal-Question-Metric (GQM) framework as the core mechanism to monetize data in the organization, based on business goals, key questions, and key performance indicators (KPIs). The book is technology-agnostic, as concepts are used for unlocking the value of data without any reference to proprietary technologies.

 

This book is absolutely timely and relevant in today’s data-driven world.  Most of the books on data available in the market today focus on data quality, governance, and analytics. This book from Dr. Prashanth Southekal is brilliant as it puts the business stakeholder at the center by addressing the key value propositions of the business user. This book is holistic and I strongly believe it will help to bridge the gaps we have today.

 

Mario Faria

Managing Vice President, Gartner, US

 

In today’s era of digital transformation, data and information are more important than ever.  But deep understanding of how to manage data and information properly is in short supply.  That is what I love about this book by Dr. Southekal. He tangibly closes that gap for the reader.  If you are using digital transformation to improve your business performance, this book and its discussion of data’s role in improving business performance is for you. 

 

Michael Fulton

   President, Americas Division, CC and C Solutions, US

 

Packed with insights and leveraging a process oriented approach, this book covers a unique combination of the science, the art and the strategy of unlocking the potential of data for enterprises in a real-life context. The author has managed to provide a clear action plan for creating data analytics and its management a key function in a modern enterprise.

 

Ashish Sonal (Vir Chakra)

CEO, Orkash, India

 

This book is one of the most practical sources for how companies can greatly improve their bottom line by improved data management and becoming a data-centric company. It combines leading data management theory with step-by-step implementation and real-life examples, and is a must-read for those wanting to derive more value from their corporate data.

Lance Calleberg

Application Architect, Husky Energy, Canada

 

Certainly, an engaging read for both information management practitioners and business unit managers alike. The tools, models, and frameworks prescribed are valuable, relevant, and lucidly blend inputs from the real-world to address numerous data management glitches at organizations. Overall, a compelling read with several practical takeaways. Refreshing!

Sriram Kannan

Digital & Analytics Practice Leader, IBM, India

 

Prashanth has given a very practical guide to implement data culture in an organization. The book Data for Business Performance talks about building the organization of the future and the role of data. Prashanth rightly believes and demonstrates that data is not an asset of the IT team and is an organization-wide asset. He proposes the need for the chief data officer (CDO) as a role that should anchor data and report to the CEO, and manage the stakeholders’ data needs.  

 

Harshajith Umapathy

 Senior Vice President, Hansa Cequity, India

 

Dr. Southekal provides valuable insights on data and information management in mostly short and clearly written sections. Anyone interested in the data-driven company should read this book and learn about the hurdles on the road to be data-driven, and his valuable suggestions on how to overcome them. His wisdom may prevent some of the failures that helped him learn.

 

Erik van der Voorden 

Domain Architect, Independent Consultant, Netherlands

 

Data can tell us important stories when we process it by proven and structured approaches. Dr. Southekal’s book presents such an approach based on the GQM method for transforming business data into an enterprise asset. This book is a valuable resource for organizations willing to become real data-driven organizations.

 

Ahmet Dikici, PhD

Project Manager, Tubitak Bilgem Software Technologies, Turkey

About the author

 Prashanth H. Southekal brings over 20 years of digital technologies experience from companies such as SAP, Accenture, Deloitte, P&G, and General Electric. He has delivered numerous cross-functional projects across various industry sectors and helped business enterprises monetize their data. He has presented scholarly works in high quality publications and conferences, as well as published numerous books and articles on data and information management. Outside work, he enjoys juggling and music. Prashanth lives in Calgary, Canada.