About the organisation
Sector
Financial services
Size
National Mortgage Guarantee Fund
Mortgage guarantees for the entire Netherlands
Challenge
Multiple versions of the truth
No ownership
Definitions without governance
Solution
dgl Business Solution (framework + DAGONGIN software)
You only see the problem when it’s already too late.
Consider the concept of “arrears” a critical steering metric for NHG. Does it mean two months of missed payments, or three? Across the organization, multiple definitions of the same concept existed all with valid arguments, yet each leading to a different outcome.
This was not an exception. It was the rule. NHG was structurally challenged by:
- Multiple versions of the truth: the same data, different interpretations
- Data ownership that was not formally assigned anywhere
- Definitions scattered across the organization with no central registry
- IT and business working in silos without a shared language
- A core reporting dataset that was not broadly trusted as a reliable source
As a result, data was used—but not fully trusted.
How this affected the organization
- Discussions about the accuracy of figures took precedence over discussions about content
- Decisions were made based on steering information without consensus
- Trust in data as a foundation for risk assessment was under pressure
What was at stake
- At the moment you truly need data to steer, make decisions, or manage risk, the last thing you want is a debate about its quality.
- And certainly not the realization that the same data is being interpreted differently—that you're effectively talking past each other.
- For an organization whose core purpose is guaranteeing mortgages, an uncertain data foundation is not an abstract risk—it is an operational problem.
“If there’s one party that truly takes the burden off your shoulders, it’s DGL. They don’t just say what they’re going to do they clearly explain how, and then deliver exactly as promised. That’s class.”
Arne van den Ing — Lead Data Management Team
Why dgl?
A solution that starts from the business—a true business solution, not another technical tool.
Built on a simple principle: start small, but start. One of NHG’s most critical reports—the Core Metrics Report—was carefully analyzed. Together, we clarified which data is used and how it should be interpreted.
What dgl delivered
- Business Glossary
What exactly do we mean by “arrears”? Two months, or three? The Business Glossary provides one clear, substantiated answer for every concept—aligned with the business and permanently anchored. - Data Dictionary
Which data fields are actually used, and how are they defined digitally? The Data Dictionary finally gives IT a clear and unambiguous answer to what the business expects. - Rebuilt Core Metrics Report 2024
Rebuilt step by step. Filtering, eliminating, and redefining with precision. Reduced to the fields that are actually used—driven by the business, who owns the data. - The business as data owner
Who is “the business”? At NHG: every department that directly uses data to steer—basically everyone except the supporting teams. They take ownership of the definitions. Not IT. That’s the core of data governance. - RACI per data domain
The RACI model clarifies, per data domain, who owns the definitions and makes governance operational. Governance leaders, data owners, and data stewards are formally assigned and embedded in simple tooling.
With practical guidance and a widely supported framework, data governance became not a project, but a way of working.
The result
Control, trust, and demonstrable compliance
✅ Business-aligned definitions for the figures in the Core Metrics Report
✅ Ownership of definitions placed with the people who truly own them: business specialists
✅ Clarity for IT on what is expected from the data
✅ Increased trust in data quality by connecting IT and business
✅ No more discussions about how figures are produced—focus shifts to insights and decisions
✅ Definitions centrally documented and accessible to everyone in the organization at all times
The business value
A foundation NHG can build on independently—based on three key pillars:
Continuity
Data governance is not a one-off exercise, but a continuous process that is embedded and centrally managed.
Ownership
Through RACI and clearly assigned roles—governance leader, data owners, and data stewards—everyone knows how definitions are governed and maintained.
Collaboration
Simpler and more natural, because definitions are centralized and the process is driven through clearly defined roles.
Are the data issues in this case recognizable for your organization?
Discover how your organization can grow with a reliable data foundation that works for your business.