One unexpected finding in the study relative to the organizational
home for discovery is that several of the groups reported
that they report to the Finance organization or to the CFO. At a
health insurer, mobile telecom firm, and gaming firm, discovery
efforts were based in that function. The challenge of that reporting
relationship is that financial justification for discovery is required,
but that is perhaps a good idea anyway. Indeed, while it has been
noted by vendor executives that “there is seldom a budget in place
for data discovery,” none of the companies interviewed seemed
to have significant difficulties with justifying their programs and
capability development in financial terms.