Data-driven organizations capture and reinforce the value of their data by constantly surrounding it with context -- describing where it's from, who has access, and how it is being used.
Data Is Everywhere
One would think that the data would be well organized and maintained — as in a library, where every book is stored in one place. In fact, most data-driven cultures are exactly the opposite. Data is everywhere — on databases, inside business intelligence tools, on file servers, and on reports on people's PCs — all within the company walls. The key is knowing where the data is, not centralizing and confining it. Data catalogs really help address data chaos.