# The governance conversation checklist

Dodl — Diary of a Data Leader

A reusable worksheet for one dataset, measure, or recurring decision. Duplicate this file for each conversation. Any examples below are hypothetical.

## 1. Describe the decision

- Working title:
- Date and participants:
- What decision or recurring task are we supporting?
- Who uses the information, and when?
- What disagreement, delay, or uncertainty prompted this conversation?
- What observable improvement would be useful?

## 2. Agree the meaning

- [ ] Describe the dataset or measure in plain language.
- [ ] State which records and reporting period are included.
- [ ] Define the key terms and calculation, if applicable.
- [ ] Identify alternative definitions that remain valid for other purposes.
- [ ] Record expected exceptions and known limitations.
- [ ] Name the original source and the route for checking it.

**Shared definition:**

> Replace this line with the agreed definition and its intended use.

**Hypothetical example:** “Cases closed in the reporting month, using the final closure timestamp; reopened cases are reviewed separately.”

## 3. Make responsibilities usable

| Responsibility | Role or team | Contact route | Available support |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Approves the business definition | | | |
| Maintains the description and gathers questions | | | |
| Investigates source or technical issues | | | |
| Resolves an issue that cannot be agreed locally | | | |

- [ ] The responsible people understand and accept their roles.
- [ ] Their time, authority, and escalation route are clear.
- [ ] Users know where to raise a question and what happens next.

## 4. Record the agreement

- Agreed decision:
- Options considered:
- Reason for the choice:
- Unresolved questions:
- Next action:
- Action owner:
- Target date:
- Location of the current definition:

## 5. Keep the agreement alive

- Review date or change trigger:
- How will users hear about changes?
- How will exceptions and unresolved questions be recorded?
- What will show whether the original task has become easier?
- Who will check that the improvement lasts?

## Decision log template

| Date | Question | Decision | Reason | Owner | Review trigger |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | | | | | |

## Before closing

- [ ] One practical next step has an owner and date.
- [ ] Genuine differences are visible rather than hidden in a single number.
- [ ] The agreement can be understood by a colleague who missed the meeting.
- [ ] The group knows when and how it will revisit the agreement.