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Data Governance

Data Steward

In a nutshell

The person who looks after a data set day to day: defines terms, monitors quality, documents and coordinates fixing errors.

The Data Steward manages a domain's data day to day on behalf of the Data Owner. If the Owner decides, the Steward makes sure decisions are carried out.

Usual tasks: maintain business glossary definitions; write and review quality rules; monitor indicators and open issues when they fail; document data origin and lineage in the catalogue; answer user questions; and act as the link between business and IT.

In a small business it is rarely a full-time job: it is usually someone in the area who knows the data well and spends a few hours a week on it. What matters is that they are appointed in writing and their role appears in the RACI matrix.

Read more: Data Governance roles and responsibilities.

Reference: DAMA-DMBOK

Related terms

Data OwnerBusiness glossaryData qualityRACI matrix
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← Back to the glossaryUpdated: October 2026 · Informational content, not legal advice.