Governança de dados na administração pública: Avaliação do Nível de Maturidade nas Universidades Federais da Região Centro-Oeste

Abstract

The growing relevance of data as strategic assets in Public Administration poses a challenge to Federal Institutions of Higher Education (IFES) to develop structures capable of ensuring the governance, quality, and strategic use of institutional information. Although universities produce and manage large volumes of academic, administrative, and scientific data, the absence of consolidated governance practices may compromise the integration, reliability, and effective use of these assets for decision-making and the generation of public value. In this context, this study aimed to assess the level of data governance maturity in eight federal universities located in Brazil’s Central-West Region, using the Federal Public Administration Data Maturity Model (MMD) as a reference. This is an applied study with a quantitative and qualitative approach, conducted through a multiple-case study. Of the eight universities that comprised the research universe, six effectively participated in the study by voluntarily responding to the data collection instrument. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire consisting of a quantitative stage based on the MMD and a qualitative stage with five semi-structured questions, grounded in Isidro (2018), to investigate facilitators and barriers. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Spearman’s rank correlation, while the openended questionnaire responses and institutional documents were examined through Thematic Content Analysis, following the stages of data organization, classification, and interpretation (Flick, 2009). The results revealed different levels of maturity among the institutions analyzed, with more consolidated progress in strategic dimensions related to data governance and the recognition of data as institutional assets, as well as challenges associated with interoperability, data quality, the definition of responsibilities, and the strengthening of a data-driven culture. As a practical contribution, the study supported the development of an Action Plan aimed at advancing data governance maturity, adaptable to the institutional characteristics of the IFES analyzed. The findings reinforce that the consolidation of data governance depends on the articulation of people, processes, organizational structures, and institutional capabilities, going beyond the mere adoption of technological solutions.