Strong information system decisions depend on knowing where data came from and what happened to it before it reached a dashboard, report, or service desk queue. A data lineage walkthrough turns that invisible path into something students can inspect and discuss.
This activity works well for campus examples such as student registration, class attendance, helpdesk tickets, or learning management reports.
Walkthrough steps
Ask each group to choose one important data item and trace it through four checkpoints:
- Source: Where is the data first captured, and who is responsible for entering it correctly?
- Transformation: Which systems clean, combine, filter, or calculate values from the original record?
- Ownership: Who can explain the meaning, quality limits, and acceptable use of the data?
- Decision risk: What could go wrong if the value is delayed, duplicated, incomplete, or misunderstood?
Students should draw a simple flow that connects people, systems, and decision points rather than only naming software tools.
Classroom reflection
After each group presents, compare which risks are technical and which are governance-related. For example, a broken import script is technical, while unclear responsibility for correcting source records is a governance issue.
Learning outcome
Students learn that data quality is not just a database property. It is a management responsibility that connects process design, accountability, communication, and evidence-based decision making.