Inside the Audit Process

When I audit data teams, I examine two core dimensions:

Control

• Mutual understanding of KPIs and dimensions
• Loading, structuring, and modeling practices

Agility

• Roles and responsibilities in working with data
• Alignment of the data team’s output with business goals

When I conduct audits for companies, the process typically takes 5-10 days and involves:

• In-depth stakeholder interviews (executives, data team, data providers)
• Assessment using the Control-Agility Framework
• Development of actionable recommendations
• Focus on quick wins and strategic initiatives

For companies with up to 1000 employees and data teams up to 40 people, the health checks are not very intrusive and don’t require access to any data infrastructure.

From time to time, I run audits for companies over 10k employees - these audits are typically more involved and take much longer.

The Self-Audit Tool: Measure Where You Stand

To help teams independently assess their position on the control-agility matrix, I've developed a self-audit tool with 78 targeted questions across the control and agility dimensions.

Those questions are very similar to the assessments I make during my actual audits.

This diagnostic tool gives you:

• A clear score that places you in one of the four zones on the control-agility matrix
• Detailed insights into your strengths and weaknesses
• A foundation for improvement planning

You can access the tool here.

Real Life Audit Findings

Let me share two contrasting cases from audits I performed last year:

Case 1: The Bottleneck Trap A Series D scale-up struggled with:

• Unstable data pipelines
• Missing software engineering practices
• Multiple conflicting intelligence products
• Heavily centralized "dashboard factory" setup

Key recommendations from this audit: Establish proper software engineering principles and implement a robust data model.

Case 2: The Fortress Dilemma A Series B company excelled in technical aspects but faced different challenges:

• Inconsistent KPI definitions
• Lack of KPI ownership
• Missing product owner role
• Poor communication between business teams and data hub

Key recommendations from this audit: Establish clear data products aligned with business goals and implement a focused self-service strategy.

Take Action: Assess Your Team

Using our self-audit tool, you can determine your team's position on the Control-Agility spectrum. Scores follow a grading system from DD to AA.

For those scoring BB or above - congratulations! You're already setting the standard for data excellence!

If you score below BB, consider joining our masterclass “Create massive business impact with your data team”. 

Want to take your first step toward improvement? Start with the self-audit tool and get an objective view of where you stand. Your journey to the Promised Land of Data begins with understanding where you are today.