Nut Allergies and Data Security

As a parent of a child with a nut allergy, eating out is always a worrisome time. My wife and I have our routine we follow every time we order, checking every ingredient and asking all the right questions numerous times before our son eats anything. But, as life often goes, things can get a bit hectic, and we sometimes miss the crucial details that could lead to a disaster.

The other day, we found ourselves in a café, juggling a million things at once. In the rush, we didn’t triple-check with the vendor about the ingredients of a cookie our son wanted to try. We usually double-check between ourselves, but this time, we let our guard down. Turns out, it had Nutella in it—yep, that’s hazelnut chocolate. Our son, who knows the drill, took a small bite and had to wait for a little while before he could start to eat it, just like we taught him. Almost immediately, he sensed something was off. His instincts kicked in, and he told us he wasn’t feeling right.

We quickly assessed the situation: his throat felt funny, his lips were starting to swell, and he said his chest felt tight. Thankfully, we had some antihistamine on hand, and after giving it to him, we kept a close eye on him. That was our first layer of response. The second step would be a stronger medication to tackle the issue more quickly, and if things escalated, we had the EpiPen ready for immediate action.

After consulting with a pharmacist in a nearby pharmacy, we realised we could add a fourth step to our response plan—an injection that could be administered before the EpiPen if needed. This layered approach gives us a solid strategy for handling allergic reactions, and it’s a reminder of how important it is to have multiple safety nets in place.

This whole experience got me thinking about how it relates to my views on data management and leadership. Just like my family relies on a system of checks and balances to keep our son safe, effective data management needs a team effort where everyone plays a part in keeping things secure and up to date.

In my work, I use something called the RACI matrix—a handy, simple process that helps clarify who’s responsible for what in a project. RACI stands for Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed. By using this framework, I make sure everyone knows their role when it comes to managing data. Each person is responsible for their bit, and if something goes wrong, I can easily figure out where the issue is and who to talk to. In most cases knowing the cause and location of the problem is the major issue.

I know many other schools have one person who is responsible for data as a data manager who is supposed to handle everything. While one person can be super diligent, it’s a lot of pressure, and mistakes can happen. Just like my family’s safety routine relies on multiple checks, a distributed leadership model in data management creates a culture of accountability. Everyone looks out for each other, much like how my son has learned to take a cautious bite before diving into a potentially dangerous food item. My role now as IT Director is to ensure that the framework is working, and we have at least two administrators who know and see the bigger picture and are able to troubleshoot all areas of the Management Information System (MIS).

Communication and education are key in both situations. We’ve taught our son about his allergy, empowering him to recognise when something isn’t right. Similarly, in data management, it’s crucial to educate team members about their roles and the importance of keeping data secure. When everyone knows the risks and their responsibilities, the whole system becomes stronger. If one person leaves, then there are mechanisms in place for others to step in until a replacement is found. On the other hand, if it’s only one person responsible, such as a data manager, then if they leave or fall sick, it becomes much more difficult to find a substitute.

In a nutshell, the incident with my son was a real eye-opener about the importance of vigilance, communication, and shared responsibility—whether it’s managing a nut allergy or overseeing data security. In my view, by promoting a culture of distributed leadership and using tools like the RACI matrix, we can create safer environments, both at home and at work. Just as we need to stay alert in our personal lives, we also need to ensure our professional practices are robust enough to handle whatever surprises come our way.

What do you think? What do you do in your workplace to ensure your data is secure, accurate, and relevant?