A data strategy should have what critical component?

A data strategy is fundamentally about aligning an organization's data management efforts with its overall business goals. The critical component that highlights this alignment is the connection to other business and information system (IS) plans. By establishing these linkages, a data strategy ensures that the management of data is not done in isolation, but rather as an integrated part of the broader strategic objectives of the organization.

This integration allows for a comprehensive view of how data can be leveraged to support business initiatives, enhance decision-making, and drive innovation within the organization. It helps in identifying the data needs for various business functions, ensuring that the data strategy evolves in step with the business's changing requirements.

While implementation details, standards and procedures, and tactical plans are all important aspects of data management, they serve more as operational elements rather than strategic connectors. Without the crucial linkages to the overall business and IS plans, the data strategy could risk misalignment with organizational goals, potentially leading to ineffective data utilization and missed opportunities.