Data Contracts Workshop

Struggling to improve the quality and reliability of your data, and think data contracts might be the answer?

Looking to implement data contracts in your organization, but don’t know where to start?

Aiming to build a self-serve data platform that users love because it drives their autonomy, automates governance, and facilitates decentralized data ownership?

This workshop is for you.

I had multiple "oh!" moments that will definitely impact my thinking about the role of data engineering and the ways in which solutions are architected. In particular, the example of using data contracts as the basis of a data platform was a light bulb moment.

In this workshop we will explore the full spectrum of Data Contracts, from implementing intricate technical details to initiating cultural change.

Through a mix of discussion and hands-on exercises we will create a data contract and use it to create an interface (i.e. a table in a database) that is under change management.

We will then use the same data contract implement automated data quality tests and populate a data catalog.

Finally we will look at federated data governance and use the data contract to implement access management and data retention policies.

By the end of the workshop you will…

• Have a deep understanding of data contracts, what they are, and the problems they solve
• Use data contracts to create an interface and implement change management on it
• Understand how to use them to power data quality and data catalogs
• Implement federated computational data governance with data contracts
• Learn practical skills to drive adoption of data contracts in your organization

Really liked the workshop and the setup of it. The table discussions were a good icebreaker. Wish all workshops were as good as this one!

Who’s it for?

This workshop is tailored for software, platform and data engineers, and anyone else looking for practical guidance for implementing data contracts in their organization.

Requirements

Basic Python and SQL knowledge and familiarity with Docker. Bring your laptop with Python3 and Docker already installed.

Workshop overview

The 1 day Implementing Data Contracts workshop includes a mix of discussion and hands-on exercises. The outline for the workshop is as follows.

1. Introduction to data contracts

The why, what and how of data contracts, and how to start thinking about what they will look like in practice, in your organization.

2. The why, what and how of data contracts

Through a guided hands-on exercise you will create your first data contract and use it to create an interface.

3. The power of data contracts

Exploring what can be built on data contracts, and how you can use them to power a data platform, providing all the data capabilities you need.

4. Data quality and discoverability

In this hands-on exercise you will use the data contract to implement data quality checks and populate a data catalog.

5. Federated data governance

Learn why federating data governance is so important in a decentralized data architecture and how you can embed data governance with data contracts. Complete a hands-on exercise to see this in practice.

6. Adopting data contracts

How to introduce data contracts into your organization, from getting started to changing your data culture.

Training for your team

I can provide this workshop directly to your team, either on-site or online, as either the full-day or a half-day.

Public courses

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Key takeaways from previous attendees

Data contracts can do more than just ownership or basic definition. Having producers and consumers working together can create a space for conversation and discussion around expectations of data. The workshop and actual hands-on practice was super useful! Loved the workshop format.

It was a really good workshop, I liked it a lot. A very good speaker who clearly knew what he was talking about and could bring it really well.

Data Contracts are a well fitting solution for data management practices for my organization.

Data contracts are incredibly powerful, and can be used in multiple different ways. They can be treated as a centralised source-of-truth and everything else (schema registries, data catalogues, data quality) can be built up from them.

Start by building generic tooling to increase autonomy, remove bottlenecks, and ensure consistency.

I now have a better understanding of what data contracts are and how they can be implemented.

The value of a good data contract and how it can help support and create a good data infrastructure.

The concepts of lack of expectations, data exhaust, shadow semantics, Federated Data Governance as inverse manoeuvre in merger/acquisition.

I have a good understanding of data contracts. What they are and where they can be used.

Data contracts should be involved in the change management process and need to quantify value of data and cost of change

That data contracts are to be implemented where they deliver value and data teams need to be value driven.