English abstract
This study aims to identify the status of data governance application in public
institutions in the Sultanate of Oman. It also attempts to identify the rules and
strategies adopted by public institutions for their data governance. The study
investigates the impacts of data governance application and the challenges
that encounter data governance application in public institutions in the
Sultanate.
The study adopted the qualitative methodology. It used semi-structured
interviews as a data collection tool with 19 interviewees. The study
population included the public institutions and companies in the Sultanate of
Oman which adopted the data governance initiatives. The sample was
purposely selected. It consisted of eight institutions, including seven public
institutions: Sultan Qaboos University, Ministry of Transport,
Communications and Information Technology, Royal Oman Police, National
Center for Statistics and Information, Oman Governance and Sustainability
Center, Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation
and E-Defense Center. One public company was also selected, which is
Oman Telecommunications Company.
The study drew a set of conclusions: The Sultanate's attention to developing
the legislative framework related to data governance by issuing a group of
laws regulating data management in public institutions. Readiness of
governance policies varied in public institutions in the Sultanate. Results
reflected a considerable deficit of specialized data governance staff in the
Sultanate.
Moreover, the findings showed that some public institutions have an efficient
infrastructure that makes managing and utilizing data more effective.
Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology are
concerned with framing data governance legislation in the Sultanate, setting
the policies, and drawing directions for public institutions interested in
adopting the data governance initiatives. Results of this study proved that
data governance would positively reflect on supporting the digitization of
ز
public institutions, creating the national digital economy, and ensuring data
accuracy and quality. Several challenges face Oman institutions in the
application of data governance, categorized by the study as Legislative,
administrative, technical, financial, and human challenges.
The study raised a group of recommendations, mainly: There shall be a
strategic plan for data governance application to be followed by public
institutions and companies and monitored by the Ministry of Transport,
Communications and Information Technology. There is also a need to
provide performance progress reports by all public institutions and
companies to the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information
Technology.
