A Data Set Journey Map is a collaborative activity that maps the journey a data set takes through the tools and applications to fulfil the needs for the business and/or the consumers. In the context of Data Mesh, this activity guides a team in the creation of a backlog of data products towards a decentralised data architecture.
What is a Data Product? A Data Product is any tool or application that processes data and generates results to help businesses improve their decisions and processes.
What is a Data Mesh? Data Mesh refers to the concept of breaking down monolithic applications and siloes data storage into a decentralised data architecture.
What is a Data Set Journey? A Data Set Journey is the step by step (via Data Products) a data set takes from its first appearance until it achieves the desired state for the business or the consumers.
This activity aims to answer the following question: What are the Data Products, the owners, the tools, the source systems and the transformations a Data Set goes through to fulfil the needs for the business and/or the consumers?
Step by step:
- Ask the participants to represent a Data Set Journey, the step by step (via Data Products) a data set takes from its first appearance until it achieves the desired state for the business or the consumers.
- For each step, add notes under it for a few categories: Data Product, owner, tools, source systems and transformations
- Review all notes and then consider splitting or combining steps in order to match your architectural goals (for example: create better Data Products via low coupling, high cohesion, high reusability)
