A Cubic Framework for the Chief Data Officer: Succeeding in a World of Big Data

A new breed of executive, the Chief Data Officer (CDO), has stepped onto the stage, emerging as a key leader in the organization. To help readers understand this development, we provide a three-dimensional framework that describes the role of the CDO. The three dimensions include: (1) collaboration direction (inward vs. outward), (2) data space (traditional data vs. big data), and (3) value impact (service vs. strategy). We illustrate the framework with examples from early adopters and provide recommendations to help organizations assess and strategize the establishment of their own CDOs.