Organisations must look beyond preparing their data for AI and ensure that employees and business stakeholders are ready to participate in governance efforts, according to Gartner.

By 2027, 60% of organisations that fail to address the cultural challenges associated with data and analytics governance will also fail to govern AI successfully, Gartner has predicted.

The business and technology insights company said organisational culture can determine whether governance policies are adopted and sustained across an enterprise. In this context, culture encompasses the mindsets, behaviours and organisational norms surrounding governance.

Speaking at the Gartner Data & Analytics Summit in Mumbai, Anurag Raj, Director Analyst at Gartner, said organisations have often concentrated on policies and technology without paying sufficient attention to the people expected to put those measures into practice.

“AI has amplified the importance of getting data governance foundations right, but many organizations remain focused on policy creation and technology enablement while overlooking the cultural aspects that are critical to the scaled and sustained operationalization of those policies. Data governance without a focus on a data-driven culture is an effort in vain.”

Research from Gartner suggests cultural resistance presents a greater obstacle to governance initiatives than a lack of funding.

A survey of 223 data and analytics leaders conducted in March 2026 found that 60% identified cultural resistance as a reason for governance initiatives failing, compared with 40% who cited funding constraints.

The company highlighted low levels of data-driven maturity, limited understanding among stakeholders of the value of governance and weak engagement from the wider business as continuing challenges.

These issues can make it more difficult for organisations to establish the trusted foundations required to support their AI ambitions.

From AI-Ready Data to AI-Ready People

As businesses work to prepare their data for AI systems, Gartner argued that comparable attention must be given to the employees and stakeholders responsible for managing and using that data.

“Organizations are increasingly focused on creating AI-ready data,” said Raj. “However, AI-ready data also requires AI-ready stakeholders who understand the value of trusted data, participate in data governance-related policy management activities, and overall maintain a culture of accountability and trust.”

Gartner recommended connecting governance initiatives directly to business outcomes and wider AI ambitions. Prioritising activity according to strategic objectives could help organisations demonstrate measurable value and retain the support of executive stakeholders.

Recommended reading

• East Lothian Council Backs Hyperscale Data Centre Plan at Cockenzie
• Data Centres “Shredding” Scotland’s Net Zero Goals, Say Campaigners
• US AI Firm Invests £1.15BN in Scottish Data Centre
• Plans Revealed for £15Bn Data Centre Network Across Scotland
  

The company also called for data governance to be repositioned as a business enabler and a shared organisational responsibility. Rather than treating governance solely as an IT function, accountability should extend across both business and technology teams.

Governance practices should also be incorporated into everyday business processes, according to Gartner.

This would involve combining data governance with data literacy, AI literacy and change management throughout day-to-day operations, with the aim of building more sustainable trust and engagement.

The findings suggest that organisations seeking to strengthen AI governance will need to address how employees understand, support and participate in data governance, alongside developing the required policies and technical infrastructure.

“Future success with AI depends as much on people as it does on technology,” said Raj. “Organizations that treat data governance and data-driven culture as the twin foundations of trust will be far better positioned to govern AI successfully and realize greater value from their AI investments.”