Establishing the Global Data Office for a Global Pharmaceutical Company
Acknowledging the shared data challenges across all business lines, a global Pharmaceutical company established a global data office. Our HYGHT team member was appointed as the interim Head of Data Office, tasked with shaping the initial global data strategy and kickstarting enterprise-level data management discussions in the IT Committee. The ambition was to create a harmonised data landscape, paving the way for innovative AI/Analytics use cases, streamlining data preparation, and fostering trust in data.
at a glance
Company Size
global market leader
Location
Nordics
Period
03/2020 - 12/2020
Industry
Life Sciences
Main Services
Data Strategy
Collaboration Project
Building the foundation for future
data management capabilities
01
Challenges
- Data Silos: The existence of isolated data systems hampered collaboration, slowed down research and development, and impeded the overall decision-making process
- Regulatory Compliance: Navigating stringent regulations around data privacy, security, and usage in the pharmaceutical industry was complex and challenging without a robust data strategy
- Data Quality and Consistency: Ensuring the accuracy, completeness, and consistency of data across various functions like R&D, production, and marketing was a significant challenge
- Data Integration: Integrating data from diverse sources, including clinical trials, patient records, and real-world evidence, was difficult but crucial for comprehensive analysis and insights
- Advanced Analytics and AI: The lack of a data strategy hampered the adoption of advanced analytics and AI, which are increasingly important for drug discovery, personalized medicine, and operational efficiency
02
Procedure
- 100-Day Plan Definition: Established a roadmap with clear, achievable goals to deliver early wins and lay a solid foundation for long-term data strategy
- Priority Identification: Pinpointed key areas needing immediate attention based on the as-is analysis, aligning them with quick wins, strategic importance, and business goals
- Data Strategy Formulation and Alignment: Designed a sustainable strategy to foster a data culture, enhance data literacy, establish robust data governance, and align data with business growth and goals
- Tool Selection Initiation: Began the tool selection process for key capabilities, such as a data catalog and master data management, to support the data governance framework
- Roadmap and Budget Preparation: Created short and long-term roadmaps and prepared the budget request for the next calendar year to ensure the successful implementation and maintenance of the data governance initiative
Results
- Strategy Alignment: Defined and aligned global data strategy with IT portfolio
- IT Agenda Shift: Established data as a key standalone point in IT committee meetings
- Governance Approval: Secured IT committee’s approval for data governance roll out approach
- Resource Approval: Obtained approval for the upcoming year’s hiring plan and budget
- Technical Capability Initiation: Launched build phase of technical capabilities post-tool evaluations
Project Highlights
01
After one month data strategy became a separate agenda point in the IT committee with senior leaders from all Line of Business
02
The global data strategy was defined, aligned and the vision was approved and recognised by senior leadership
03
Budget and FTEs were secured for the next calendar year to invest in building new foundational capabilities