What Does a Data Trustee Actually Do? Specifying Subfunctions of a Data Trustee in Data Ecosystems

Abstract

Sharing data across company borders can unlock major potential for new value creation. But sharing data with another company has historically faced obstacles. The concept of a data trustee, which facilitates the exchange of data between two companies, has been put forward as a possible solution. Lindner and Straub identified three main functions of a data trustee, but specific subfunctions remain unclear. To address this gap, we conducted twelve semi-structured interviews with experts in data trusteeship. We identified 49 subfunctions across the three main functions. They facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of the responsibilities of a data trustee. These efforts will assist researchers in refining the definition of a data trustee and enable practitioners to design data trustees that effectively perform a set of subfunctions. The subfunctions support future development of the data trustee concept, such as creating legal structures.