Minimal Viable Data Posture for Executives

Healthcare • ~6 min read • Updated Mar 10, 2025

Context

What’s truly required to unlock 70% of priority AI use cases in months, not years. Executives often over-engineer data strategies, delaying ROI while waiting for “perfect” infrastructure. A minimal viable data posture focuses on essentials to launch impactful AI projects faster.

Core Framework

The approach is built around three accelerators:

  1. Prioritized Use Cases: Identify a small set of AI opportunities tied directly to business KPIs.
  2. Essential Data Assets: Focus on the 20% of data sources powering 80% of your priority AI applications.
  3. Fit-for-Purpose Governance: Apply just enough access control, lineage, and quality checks to enable safe deployment.

Recommended Actions

  1. Map Use Cases to Data: For each AI initiative, list required datasets and their current readiness.
  2. Establish “Good Enough” Standards: Define minimum viable quality, latency, and accessibility criteria.
  3. Set 90-Day Delivery Sprints: Deliver incremental data capabilities aligned with near-term AI launches.
  4. Embed Compliance Early: Integrate security and privacy safeguards without delaying delivery.

Common Pitfalls

  • Trying to achieve enterprise-wide data perfection before launching AI pilots.
  • Ignoring governance until after issues emerge in production.
  • Failing to align data posture to actual AI business priorities.

Quick Win Checklist

  • Deliver a “priority data assets” inventory in 30 days.
  • Launch at least one AI initiative using minimal viable data posture in 90 days.
  • Review posture quarterly to scale capabilities as AI adoption grows.

Closing

A minimal viable data posture lets executives move from strategy to AI value delivery in months, not years. By focusing on essentials, leaders unlock early wins while laying a foundation for sustainable growth.

Advisory by Straten AI Team

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