Naveen Mylarappa argues that the organizational placement of a data team significantly impacts the return on investment (ROI) of data engineering, beyond just the technical work they perform. The article highlights how data teams aligned under different departments—finance, marketing, engineering, or as standalone units—face distinct incentives and priorities, shaping how their value is perceived and how effectively they drive business outcomes. Ultimately, the key to demonstrating data's impact lies in aligning data efforts with the business goals and incentives of the department sponsoring the work.
