Understanding a Data Product as a Data Consumer

Once a data consumer has found a data product, the next question is whether it is suitable for the intended purpose.

Use the seven checks

1. Ownership: Who is accountable for the data product?
2. Data location: What data assets sit behind it and where are they located?
3. Stewardship and metadata: Is the business context complete and understandable?
4. Access: Can the consumer access the data, and what process applies if access is controlled?
5. Lineage: Where did the data come from and how has it moved or changed?
6. Data quality: Is there evidence that the data is fit for the intended use?
7. Classification: Are there sensitivity, privacy or other handling requirements?

These checks turn discovery into an informed decision. A data product should help a consumer understand not only what data exists, but whether it can be trusted and used appropriately.