Different departments use different source systems for the same metric. How do you align them?

< 1 min read

First, I would identify how each department defines and calculates the metric in their respective systems.
I would compare the data sources, calculation logic, and time periods used by each team.
Often the difference comes from varying business rules rather than actual data issues.
Next, I would facilitate a discussion with key stakeholders from each department to review these differences.
The goal is to agree on a single business definition that works for the organization.
In one project, marketing and sales reported different lead counts because they used different qualification criteria.
We aligned on one standard definition and documented it clearly.
After agreement, I would update the data model and dashboards to reflect the standardized metric.
Finally, I would document the definition in a data dictionary to ensure future consistency.

Power BI Essentials