Who Owns the Data? Why Alignment on Ownership Is Critical for AI Success

The AI Hype vs. Reality

AI promises to transform healthcare — from improving patient outcomes to optimizing operations. Yet for many organizations, AI efforts stall before they start. The reason isn’t a lack of algorithms or platforms. It’s a lack of clarity on something more fundamental: who owns the data.

The Governance Gap

For years, many organizations have underinvested in data governance. In fact, recent studies show that 82% of healthcare professionals are concerned about the quality of data they receive from external sources — suggesting widespread distrust and challenges with combining datasets [Clinical Architecture, 2025]. At the same time, 44% of healthcare leaders cite data quality and governance as a top challenge [AgilityPR, 2024].

This governance gap isn’t about technology alone — it’s about ownership. Without alignment, executives argue over access, control, and accountability. The result? AI initiatives stall in “pilot purgatory,” or worse, never launch at all.

Alignment Before AI

Data readiness isn’t a one-time clean-up project; it’s an ongoing leadership discipline.

• Who is accountable for stewardship?

• How do we balance innovation with privacy and compliance?

• What does “success” look like across clinical, financial, and IT leaders?

Until executives align on these questions, organizations risk spending millions on AI tools that cannot deliver sustainable value.

First Stage Advisors’ Role: Defining Ownership, Not Cleaning Data

At First Stage Advisors, we don’t “scrub data” or drop in quick-fix platforms. Instead, we help leadership:

• Surface readiness gaps with tools like the Alignment Pulse Scorecard™.

• Clarify ownership — so data quality, governance, and stewardship are defined at the right levels.

• Embed governance alignment throughout execution, not just at kickoff.

The outcome? A foundation where data teams know their mandate, executives trust the results, and AI initiatives move forward with confidence.

A Lesson from the Field

In one health system, IT, clinical, and finance leaders each claimed ownership of core datasets — and months of debate delayed every AI pilot. Contrast that with another organization that began with alignment: they clarified stewardship roles and governance policies early. Their AI-enabled quality improvement program launched on time and gained executive-wide support.

The Bottom Line

AI will not succeed on technology alone. The true success factor is executive alignment on data ownership and governance. Without it, the best AI tools sit idle. With it, organizations accelerate adoption, build trust, and create lasting value.

Start with alignment before the first step

Executive Alignment on Data Ownership and Governance

The author, Rebecca Bonds, is the Founder of First Stage Advisors, helping healthcare executives achieve alignment before major strategy or AI initiatives.