Trust starts at the input layer.
Bad data is worse than no data.
No data means you know you’re guessing.
Bad data creates false confidence.
We’ve seen:
• Revenue logged differently across systems
• Customer definitions vary
• KPIs inconsistently calculated
Dashboards don’t fix dirty inputs.
Governance does.
Four pillars:
Accuracy: If the number can't be trusted, the decision built on it can't be either.
Completeness: Half the picture isn't insight — it's a guess with a chart on it.
Consistency: When every team has their own version of the truth, there is no truth.
Timeliness: Right data, wrong moment — that's just history.
You don’t need a 40-page policy.
You need clear ownership and definitions.
Clean inputs reduce arguments.
Reduced arguments increase speed.