Governed metrics come before self-service and AI

A metric is more than a formula

A reusable metric includes a business definition, grain, source authority, time behavior, filters, exclusions, owner, and known limitations. The formula matters, but it is only one part of the agreement.

Put governance where people work

Definitions should appear in semantic models, report context, catalog entries, tests, access rules, and change review. A separate glossary that never meets the system cannot prevent divergence.

• Named business and technical owners
• Reusable semantic measures
• Visible source and transformation lineage
• Tests tied to material use
• A clear proposal and change path

Expand access on a dependable foundation

Once trusted models and ownership exist, self-service users can explore without rebuilding core logic, and AI systems can retrieve or explain measures without guessing their meaning. Governance is what makes broader access practical.