Field notes
Preparing a data feed list before a dashboard commission
A checklist for network teams booking a dashboard build: sources, owners, refresh timing, and sample files that speed discovery.
Dashboard commissions stall when discovery becomes a scavenger hunt for file owners. A prepared feed list shortens the first two weeks and keeps quotes accurate.
List every source you expect on the board: fault management exports, performance counters, ticket systems, and any manual district spreadsheets still in use. For each, note the owner, refresh cadence, and whether the extract is already automated.
Bring one week of sample files with headers intact. We do not need production credentials on day one, but we do need to see column names, null patterns, and time zones — Hong Kong Standard Time should be explicit, not assumed.
Mark which fields are sensitive. Crew phone numbers and customer premises addresses rarely belong on an ops wall screen. Deciding redaction early prevents late redesign.
Finally, name the person who will approve chart copy and colour rules. One decision owner keeps reviews moving when ops, planning, and field leads disagree on wording.