The future of Data Management is already here
In a recent article published on Forbes, our Nino Letteriello revisits a central topic for the future of Data Management: the ability of organisations to turn data into concrete, measurable value that is useful for the business.
Building on the four pillars he had already identified in a previous reflection:
a holistic view of Data Management
strategy before technology
value at the centre
the human factor
Nino presents a particularly interesting case: the Utility Analysis initiative developed by Bank of Ireland.
The goal of the project was to answer a simple yet complex question: how do you measure the economic value of training people?
To explore the case in more depth, Nino spoke with Carl Kane, Group Data Culture Lead, and Tom Healy, Employee Analytics and Insight Manager, who worked on a model capable of estimating the return on investment of training programmes.
The methodology applied by Bank of Ireland is based on Utility Analysis, a framework with strong academic roots, adapted to the organisation’s specific context. Instead of relying on subjective assessments, the team chose to observe the time people spent on data-related activities before and after completing the Advanced Data Pathway programme.
The result is a concrete example of how data can be used not only to describe what is happening, but also to evaluate investments, support decisions, and make the value generated by skills more visible.
This case clearly shows a direction that is now essential: Data Management is no longer just a technical discipline, but an organisational capability that involves people, processes, business functions, and shared responsibilities.
This is where Nino’s four pillars become operational:
holistic Data Management emerges from the integration of HR, analytics, finance, and learning;
strategy guides the method by starting from a precise business question;
value is measured rigorously;
the human factor remains at the centre, because the subject of the analysis is people’s skills, growth, and contribution.
The Bank of Ireland case shows that the future of Data Management is not an abstract or distant idea. It is already present in organisations that know how to use data to improve decisions, evaluate investments, and build a stronger, more resilient culture.
To read Nino Letteriello’s full analysis, you can explore the Forbes article:
The Future Of Data Management Is Already Here