Since 2006, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has hosted their Chief Data Officer and Information Quality symposium, highlighting the emerging role of data as a significant driver for revenue generation within an organization. The role of the CDO is the most recent iteration of the evolution of the data steward.

Writing for Wired, Bob Leaper of DST Global Solutions detailed that evolution from the early 80’s through to today. The Data Processing Manager gave way to the Chief Information Officer, placing an individual with computational know how into the boardroom. Even that ascendancy, he claims, still left a company’s data footprint and how best to utilize it somewhat in the shadows. The CDO’s role was created as a means of bridging the gap between the IT department and the company’s operations.

SiliconANGLE’s theCUBE, broadcasting now for the 2^nd year from #MITIQ, will be detailing the responsibilities for this relatively new role as they slowly solidify. To that end, the live broadcast will feature interviews with academics, executives, thought leaders, experts and bloggers over the next two days.

In theCUBE’s kickoff for the event, co-host Jeff Kelly commented on how the role of the CDO is moving in the direction of being a more accepted position in the enterprise. In light of recent research by Gartner which claimed 25 percent of companies would have appointed a CDO by the end of next year, Kelly believes the role will be critically important for modern companies and that it will maintain that level of importance even a decade on from today.

With recent revelations of how some companies are utilizing their customer’s data, one newly important function of the role of the CDO will be in minimizing risk within the organization. While the goal of any company is to analyze their data in such a way that it drives revenue for the organization, the CDO will take on the added responsibility of ensuring all analysis is performed to the highest standard of ethics. This is because any perceived misuse or customer data and the backlash it creates will fall squarely on the shoulders of the company’s CDO.

Be sure to join Dave Vellante, Jeff Kelly and Paul Gillin all this week for the live broadcast of theCUBE at siliconangle.tv.

photo credit: Pierre Metivier via photopin cc