You are a GO for launch.
Modern analytics aren’t supposed to
be this fast, this affordable, 
or this dialed in.
45 days out
  
  
  Launch Checklist
      Paperwork is signed.
This is real.
    
    
    This is real.
 
      - Signed (MSA) master service agreement.
- Signed (SOW) statement of work.
- Other.
      Deposit is paid.
Green means go.
    
    
    Green means go.
 
      - 20% due up front. Non-refundable.
- We’re dedicating our team’s schedule to your business for this next sprint. We need your commitment you’re really in.
      Workshop booked.
Mark your calendar.
    
    
    Mark your calendar.
 
      - Four cohorts per year: Feb 1, May 1, Aug 1, Nov 1
- Our goal: leverage your team’s deep knowledge of your business to establish the governing rules for your analytics ecosystem.
      Credentials issued.
Logins are sorted.
    
    
    Logins are sorted.
 
      - We gotta hit the ground running to hit our timeline commitments to you.
- So before we even start, we require a touchpoint with your IT folks to make sure we have access to key systems.
- Why? You will inevitably need automated data syncs set up per your data strategy.
      Bi ‘ol green light.
Final checks.
    
    
    Final checks.
 
      - Assigned project manager gives everyone a green light.
- Houston, we’re a GO for launch.
Weeks 1-3
  
  
  Explore & Strategize
      IT brainstorm sesh.
Get IT’s thumbs up.
    
    
    Get IT’s thumbs up.
 
      - Data security: here are the lines; color within them.
- Data retention: here’s how long we’ll keep data around before deleting it.
- Data permissions: here’s how to manage who has access to what data stuff.
- There’s more but you get the idea…
      Executive workshops.
Some secret sauce.
    
    
    Some secret sauce.
 
      - Select top 10 KPIs.
- Set targets for each selection.
- Write user stories for target deviation scenarios.
- Review TCO budget & analytics ROI benchmarks: make tech selections.
- Roadmap data strategy: from Bi to Ai.
- Outline change management rollout plan.
      Dept deep dive.
Under the hood.
    
    
    Under the hood.
 
      - Identify 1-3 north start metrics.
- Write user stories, lock targets, etc.
- Capture data input stories.
- Establish data contracts.
Weeks 4-6
  
  
  Architect & Design
      Data architecture.
Draw it (no crayons).
    
    
    Draw it (no crayons).
 
      - Curate data flow diagrams for data architecture.
- Document translated business rules as data governance rules.
      Entity diagramming.
Map everything.
    
    
    Map everything.
 
      - Map out fields, dependencies, relationships, etc.
- Create a live entity relationship diagram.
      Wire-framing galore.
Validate then build.
    
    
    Validate then build.
 
      - Low fidelity dashboards, scorecards, data marts need to be validated first.
- Iterate through feedback until we’ve obtained final approval from end users.
Weeks 7-9
  
  
  Build & Test
      Create data lakehouse.
Database configured.
    
    
    Database configured.
 
      - We create your own data warehouse and data lake combo in the cloud.
- This is a centralized location to store data, run transformation scripts, and load it to where it’s needed.
      Automate data extracts.
Data pipelines setup.
    
    
    Data pipelines setup.
 
      - Daily, hourly, live data extracts from major systems of record.
- Data is synced across select systems.
      Transform data
via code/scripts.
    
    
    via code/scripts.
 
      - Raw data needs to be cleaned, pulled together, and modeled to be useable.
- No magic. Just the most readable code you’ve never seen.
      Automate key data
quality checkpoints.
    
    
    quality checkpoints.
 
      - Freshly extracted data is often hot garbage. That is, until business rules meet data governance.
- Flag and systematically deal with exceptions.
      Build Bi dashboards
and scorecards.
    
    
    and scorecards.
 
      - Turn those wireframes into live executive scorecards, dashboards, and reports.
- Iterate till users are starry-eyed.
      Configure self-service
reporting access points.
    
    
    reporting access points.
 
      - Spreadsheets aren’t “dead” and they’ll never be.
- Your “Export” button isn’t going anywhere.
- We’ll setup access to curated datasets for ad-hoc analysis.
Weeks 10-12
  
  
  Document & Train
      Consolidate workload
planning materials.
    
    
    planning materials.
 
      - Pull together tech & docs for preventative maintenance calendar.
- Schedule recommended next items on the strategic roadmap.
- Turn on your data ticketing system & provide triage docs.
      Create tailored user
& steward training.
    
    
    & steward training.
 
      - No generic stuff. The training content is created for YOUR company.
- Video & written training content is created for current headcount & future hires.
      Deliver live trainings.
Onboard users.
    
    
    Onboard users.
 
      - Host a handful of live sessions to train all users and stewards.
- Onboard all user groups & setup systems to manage future onboarding/offboarding.
      Provide analytics ROI
assessment reports.
    
    
    assessment reports.
 
      - Validate the value of your analytics ecosystem using a variety of metrics including user feedback, views, downloads, etc.
      We’re fired (up).
Prep for replacement.
    
    
    Prep for replacement.
 
      - Although we do offer retainer based services to select clients, we pride ourselves in future proofing our work product beyond the life of our contract.
- All training and documentation your next inhouse data hire (our replacement) will need will be prepped so they can hit the ground running.
- Next stop: the moon.
