Reflection Questions

Use these to reflect where to begin

Leadership & Governance

• Do department heads expect to use data in performance discussions?

• Are data conversations reactive (crisis-based) or routine?

• Is there a clear executive sponsor?

Metrics & Clarity

• Can we identify 5 core citywide outcome metrics today?

• Are those metrics disaggregated?

• Are definitions consistent across departments?

Culture & Accountability

• Is data used for learning or punishment?

• Do managers feel safe surfacing performance gaps?

• Does council request outcome data regularly?

Infrastructure

• Do we know where our most important data lives?

• Are systems interoperable?

• Do we have at least one staff member comfortable with analyzing data?

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Research on large-scale structural reforms highlights that scale often increases coordination costs and complexity.

Common mistakes:

• Over-centralizing too quickly

• Launching dashboards before clarifying purpose

• Treating data as an IT project

• Attempting full-system integration in Year 1

• Failing to align data goals with budget cycles

What Success Looks Like After 12 Months

• 3–5 clear performance goals tracked monthly

• At least 2 metrics disaggregated

• One documented process improvement

• Data included in budget discussions

• A cross-department data habit established

Not perfection. Habit.

One-Page “Strategic Data Plan Canvas”

You may include this as a printable worksheet:

Strategic Data Plan Canvas

1. Why are we doing this?

2. Top 3 Outcomes We Want to Improve

3. Current Metrics That Matter

4. One Equity Gap We Will Address

5. Governance Structure

6. 12-Month Milestones