In this episode of Calculated Conversations, I spoke with Dr. Sandile Mbatha, South Africa’s first-ever Chief Data Officer. Dr. Mbatha is at the forefront of developing a data-driven culture within government operations, where he plays a crucial role in reshaping how resources are allocated and services delivered.
Dr. Mbatha’s journey in data governance spans roles such as Senior Manager: Data, Research, and Policy Advocacy at eThekwini Municipality and Consultant for UN-Habitat. His work has focused on developing strategic data systems and tools to support decision-making, advocating for evidence-based policies, and fostering partnerships between the public and private sectors.
In his current role, Dr. Mbatha oversees the development of the National Strategic Hub, a groundbreaking innovation that serves as the country’s Single Source of Truth. The hub provides essential data-driven decision-support tools for local governments, making it a pivotal resource in South Africa’s governance framework. Here is what he has to say:
Data-driven decision-making is increasingly important in both public and private sectors. In your view, how can organizations best harness data to improve decision-making and drive innovation?
Organizations need to start seeing data as critical infrastructure and an asset. It begins with a mindset change. Data can’t be and shouldn’t be a ‘by-the-way’ thing. Once this change takes place, organizations need to start working with whatever data they have to find solutions to their challenges. For me, it begins by just getting started. Use whatever data is available to build a reporting tool (strategic or operational). Demonstrate the art of what is possible when you use data to make decisions. You don’t have to wait until you have the state-of-the-art database with fancy architecture models.
You have led the development of the National Strategic Hub, a pioneering data innovation initiative. What would you say are the key factors in successfully building a platform that integrates data for innovation and impact?
Starting point is understanding and accepting the complexity of the environment you are trying to work in. The public sector is very complex and rigid. Let this fact sink in and accept it so that it does not become an obstacle worth talking about. Then you have to have a clear view of the problem(s) you are trying to solve. I started with the simplest datasets to extract value and make the insights visible. What becomes more important is how your data work supports the efforts of data custodians to report better. You don’t just go around asking for data from other departments. Instead, you ask, “How can I assist you in using your data to report better and in an agile way?” For each dataset you get, there has to be value creation going back to the data custodian. Doing this work requires you to continuously ask the “so what” question. This question will push you to think beyond just a single dataset or a visualization, but it will help you build an integrated tool that unpacks the complexity of any problem with the view to provide a solution.
As data becomes central to strategy, how can organizations, regardless of their sector, begin to implement data-driven strategies to foster growth and achieve long-term success?
First, organizations need to change culture and attitude towards data. If you do not accept that data is a critical asset of your organization, you will not accept insights from it. So all organizations need to treat and invest in data as an asset. Once this is done, you then need to start linking each of your indicator targets to data. Make it impossible for anyone to report back without data that proves whatever they are reporting. Perhaps before that, you would need to use data to build your organization baseline so you know where you are and where you come from.
For organizations that are just beginning to integrate data strategies, what do you believe are the most common challenges they face, and how can they overcome them?
The common challenge is the fact that data sits in scattered systems and in silos. Another one is that data is not seen as part of business or organizational assets but rather a byproduct of operational systems. Another challenge most organizations suffer from is seeing the data problem as too big to solve. This is largely because data is seen as an ICT issue and not a strategic issue. Once it is demystified as a non-technical issue, data becomes easier to understand and use. It becomes clear to every facet of the organization that they cannot perform their duties without understanding the data of where they come from, where they are, and where they want to go.
With your experience in both public service and academia, what advice would you offer to young professionals looking to combine data science, technology, and policy to make a positive impact in their communities or industries?
Young professionals need to shift away from talking about data or technology but talk more about solutions. Data and technology are just tools and do not need to be centered. A question should always be about how can a particular challenge be resolved? Data and technology merely become enablers for resolving our pressing societal challenges. Your professionals should merely see technology and data as means to an end and not the end in themselves. So they should constantly ask themselves, “How do my skills help innovate for solutions that solve real-life challenges?” How can I improve my community using the skills I have?
Throughout our conversation, it became clear that treating data as a valuable asset and creating a data-driven culture within an organization are crucial steps to unlocking its true potential.
Dr. Mbatha’s approach shows how organizations can leverage data to achieve long-term success and sustainable growth. His journey highlights the importance of collaboration, creativity, and persistence in using data to drive innovation and solve complex problems.
As we move into a more data-focused future, Dr. Mbatha’s work is a strong reminder of how transformative data can be, especially in public service.
A huge thanks to Dr. Mbatha for sharing his thoughts and good luck on his journey ahead!
As we continue to move into a data-driven future, what role do you think data will play in shaping the world of tomorrow?
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