Leadership teams today operate in an environment defined by digital information. Every interaction, process and operational activity generates data that can reveal meaningful insights into organisational performance and external market trends. With advanced analytics and emerging artificial intelligence tools, this data has the power to guide smarter governance, risk and compliance decisions. Many leaders even envision a time when AI can support or streamline parts of the decision making process.
In reality most organisations are still progressing toward this vision. To understand how far along companies are in adopting data driven governance, Dess Digital carried out research examining how boards and senior executives are integrating technology into their decision frameworks. The study included feedback from professionals across various industries to evaluate how prepared leadership teams are for a more automated and data centred future.
Strong movement toward data informed decisions
The research indicates a clear rise in data accessibility. Nearly eight out of ten respondents reported that the volume of useful business data available to them has grown significantly in recent years. Just over four in ten believe artificial intelligence will become a regular part of leadership decision making. A similar proportion expect to increase their spending on business intelligence tools and more than half feel that their current technology investments have already improved the quality of decisions made at the executive level.
Even with this momentum, practical hurdles remain. Over half of participants said many leaders still struggle to understand how data and AI can be applied in day to day decision processes. A notable share also expressed concern that boards sometimes receive more information than they can reasonably analyse.
When leaders lack confidence in data literacy, they may misinterpret insights or fail to probe deeper into the factors shaping results. This can slow down strategic planning or create blind spots in risk assessment. Several high profile inquiries in recent years have highlighted how limited understanding of data concepts can complicate critical decisions. As organisations expand their adoption of business intelligence, they should also focus on leadership training to strengthen analytical competencies.
Data quality and strong governance remain essential
High quality data is the foundation of reliable decision making. If the information behind an analysis is outdated or inconsistent, the decisions that follow may expose the organisation to unnecessary risk. Although only a minority of respondents believe their board currently relies too heavily on data, this concern is expected to grow as digital tools become more central to governance work.
One respondent summarised the issue by noting that the accuracy of data inputs and the governance structures around them must be examined closely. Leaders need confidence that the information guiding their decisions is both valid and appropriately managed.
For AI and automation to be trusted, companies must establish strong data governance frameworks. This includes eliminating silos, ensuring clear data ownership and maintaining consistent quality checks so errors and duplication are minimised. The objective is to create a unified data environment that serves as the single source of truth for the entire organisation.
Our research shows that many organisations are still developing these foundations. Fewer than half of surveyed participants reported having fully integrated data systems that make information accessible to their board in a seamless, reliable manner.
The opportunity to advance data driven governance
The findings reveal a significant opportunity for organisations to lift their governance maturity through smarter use of data. Additional studies across the industry show that businesses which use data strategically to innovate, strengthen resilience and improve competitiveness tend to perform better financially. For leaders focused on long term value creation, building a well defined data and analytics strategy is becoming a fundamental responsibility rather than an optional initiative.
Dess Digital continues to explore how technology, data and artificial intelligence are transforming governance for boards and executive teams. This research underscores the importance of digital capability, strong data governance and leadership readiness in an era where data driven decision making is rapidly becoming the standard.
