Information governance and data quality report

1 Executive summary
2 Information governance and data quality overview
3 Identified information governance and data quality challenges
4 Recommendations for improving information governance and data quality
5 Conclusions

Executive summary

This information governance and data quality report for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) evaluates the organisation’s enterprise data framework, focusing on data quality, governance structures, and accessibility. The objective of this assessment is to identify gaps in the management and utilisation of data, ensuring alignment with the FRA’s strategic objectives, including safety monitoring, infrastructure development, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance.

The analysis covers four key areas: data governance framework, data quality management, data accessibility, and compliance with regulatory standards. The findings highlight that while data quality and accessibility are improving, significant gaps remain in governance consistency and data integration across operational systems.

Information governance and data quality overview

The table below summarises the assessment of the FRA’s data governance and quality across key dimensions:

Data Management Dimension	Current Status	Governance Level	Identified Gaps	Impact on Organisational Performance

Data Management Dimension	Current Status	Governance Level	Identified Gaps	Impact on Organisational Performance
Data governance framework	Established with core policies	Moderate	Lack of consistency across departments	Inconsistent data handling and accountability
Data quality management	Regular data validation	High	Limited monitoring of real-time data flows	Occasional data inaccuracies in reporting
Data accessibility	Centralised database access	Moderate	Restricted access for non-technical users	Hindered decision-making at operational levels
Regulatory compliance	Aligned with national standards	High	Gaps in documentation for audit readiness	Risk of non-compliance with evolving regulations

This evaluation is based on internal data audits, governance framework assessments, and stakeholder interviews.

Identified information governance and data quality challenges

Inconsistent Data Governance Practices: While core policies exist, there is limited consistency in data governance practices across various departments, leading to data silos and unclear accountability.
Data Quality Monitoring Gaps: Although the FRA conducts regular data validation, there is insufficient monitoring of real-time data flows, which can result in reporting inaccuracies.
Limited Data Accessibility for Non-Technical Users: Current data systems are centralised but lack user-friendly access for operational teams, limiting data-driven decision-making capabilities.
Regulatory Documentation Gaps: The FRA’s data governance framework generally aligns with national standards but lacks comprehensive documentation to ensure readiness for audits and compliance reviews.

Recommendations for improving information governance and data quality

Standardise Data Governance Practices: Implement a centralised data governance framework across all departments to ensure consistent data handling and clearer accountability structures.
Enhance Real-Time Data Monitoring: Introduce automated monitoring tools to improve the accuracy of real-time data flows and enhance reporting reliability.
Improve Data Accessibility: Develop user-friendly data dashboards that provide non-technical users with easier access to relevant data for operational decision-making.
Strengthen Regulatory Compliance Documentation: Regularly update compliance documentation to ensure audit readiness and alignment with evolving regulatory standards.

Conclusions

This assessment of information governance and data quality reveals significant areas for improvement, particularly in governance consistency, real-time data monitoring, and data accessibility. Addressing these gaps by standardising governance practices, enhancing real-time data monitoring, improving user accessibility, and strengthening compliance documentation will ensure that the FRA operates with accurate, accessible, and well-governed data. Implementing these recommendations will enhance operational efficiency, support regulatory compliance, and enable more effective data-driven decision-making across the organisation.

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