In a conversation with a client recently, I was reminded (yet again) of how important people and process are when it comes to managing data. As we discussed their technology options, the client said, "You know, even if this technology is free, it won't do us any good if we haven't established good processes and assigned accountability."

He's 100% correct.

I talk about people, process, and technology all the time, because all three of them are equally important for effectively managing data. You've got to have the right people ("accountability") doing the right things (process) in order for the technology to be most effective.

As a wise consultant once told me, "If your processes are crap and you add technology to those crappy processes, all you'll do is produce crap much faster."

So before you make any decisions about new technology, make sure you've got the right processes in place.