In this segment, audience questions pushed the panel to share practical, real-world tactics for getting started in a new organization, setting priorities, enforcing consistent definitions, and deciding where key assets like MDM should live.
Q&A Recap
Q: New role, lots to fix—where to start for maximum impact?
A:
- Identify top data consumers and their most-used 2–3 datasets; run a focused pilot (bronze→silver→gold→platinum) to prove patterns.
- Rank opportunities by business value × effort × pain; ship quick wins first, then iterate.
- Start from business questions → design star schema → backfill ETL only where needed instead of “big bang” rewrites.
Q: Architecture exists but layers were never clearly defined. Fix or live with it?
A:
- Apply a value × preparation (medallion) matrix and set minimum standards per layer (bronze/silver/gold/platinum).
- Normalize naming and access by audience; prefer star schema in gold as a stable base for the semantic layer.
- Move gradually: domain by domain, promote reusable curated assets into gold; keep ad-hoc, audience-specific outputs in platinum.
Q: How to balance data-quality checks with delivery speed?
A:
- Be selective: align tests to data value and layer (structural checks in bronze, dedupe/ranges/keys in silver, business rules/integrity in gold, reconciliation in platinum).
- Timebox and stage checks; don’t block delivery with exhaustive rules on low-value assets.
Q: Where to begin with ownership, cataloging, and APIs?
A:
- Start at gold/platinum where business value is realized; assign clear ownership there first.
- Add broader catalog coverage later; avoid early over-investment in expensive catalog tooling.