Module Title: CU4 – Data Collection & Management
One‑line aim or learning goal to motivate learners: Build an audit‑ready ESG data pipeline—from source to report—that is traceable, consistent and secure.
Summary:
- Governance & roles: set up a lightweight data dictionary and RACI, so every metric has an owner and approver.
- Data capture: design validated forms; know when to use primary vs secondary data; set a realistic collection cadence.
- Quality & assurance: apply validation, reconciliations and sign‑offs; maintain an audit trail with versions and approvals.
- Security & compliance: manage access, retention and privacy (especially for HR‑linked data).
Facts & Figures – (Chart description):
- 6 essential dictionary fields: name, definition, unit, owner, source, frequency.
- 9 mandatory capture‑form fields (add: period, value, preparer, approver, date, notes).
- 5 core quality dimensions: accuracy, completeness, consistency, timeliness, validity.
- 1 shared calendar to keep submissions on time.
- 3 evidence types to store: source files, dated approvals, change log.
Chart spec (for designer):
Use a row of five “stat tiles” (large numerals + 1‑line captions). Alternatively, a minimal horizontal bar chart with five labelled bars at values 6, 9, 5, 1, 3 in that order. Keep labels short; no legends; add small icons (book/form/shield/folder/calendar).
Remember!
- Don’t mix units or periods across sites—lock them in the dictionary and forms.
- Don’t rely on ad‑hoc emails; use structured evidence folders and a naming convention.
- Use the latest templates only and label/archive older versions to avoid confusion.
Key Takeaways:
- Ownership first: dictionary + RACI underpin everything.
- Validate at entry: dropdowns/range checks prevent most errors.
- Prove it: keep versions, approvals and source evidence for every KPI.
- Make it routine: publish a cadence; escalate misses promptly.
Recommendations:
- Complete the SDL activity: build a mini data inventory & flow diagram with 5–8 metrics.
- Practise using the Worksheet to design a validated capture form and a simple data‑quality plan.
Link to 1 external resource:
Eurostat – SDG Data Browser: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/sdi
