Data governance refers to the processes, policies, standards, roles, and metrics around data capture and access, ensuring that data is consistent and trustworthy throughout an organization. It involves setting goals, integrating the framework into existing business practices, defining ownership, communicating effectively, educating stakeholders, mapping infrastructure and tools, identifying data domains, understanding that implementation is an ongoing process, and procuring technology to support data governance systems and processes. Effective data governance leads to improved data quality, a single source of truth across the enterprise, established common understanding of data, improved data management, better compliance with regulations, and roles such as Chief Data Officer, data governance committee, data governance manager, and data stewards who work together to achieve these benefits.