Set the foundation. / 14 min / 3-question quiz
Make spreadsheet or legacy information understandable, consistent, and ready for a controlled move.
13/ 20
Alex · Your virtual learning guide
Follow the reading, unpack the idea, and put it into practice. At your pace.
You will produce a field map, a small cleaned sample, and a reconciliation checklist.
Identify the information you need, who owns it, and how it was collected. Define each field in plain language, including dates, statuses, units, and identifiers. Decide which source is authoritative when files overlap. Keep an unchanged copy of the source and confirm you are permitted to use the information for the intended purpose.
Choose a sample with normal records, duplicates, missing values, and unusual cases. Agree on how to identify the same customer or request across rows. Standardize values deliberately rather than guessing at ambiguous entries. Map each source field to a planned destination and document what will be excluded. Confirm the transfer method supported by your workspace.
Compare source and destination counts, selected values, relationships, and unresolved exceptions. Check that access is appropriate and the business process works with the sample. Record who signs off and how the source can be restored or consulted if problems appear. Expand in controlled batches only after the review is satisfactory.
Example to adapt
A fictional company combines two customer spreadsheets. One uses “Active” and “A”; the other contains duplicate companies under shortened names. The team agrees on status definitions and customer identifiers, then tests a small sample. Rows with uncertain matches are held for review instead of merged automatically.
Try it with your team
Use invented records with one duplicate, one missing value, and one ambiguous date. Create a source-to-destination field map. Write the cleaning rule for each issue, the expected record count, and the checks needed to confirm the move preserved the intended information.
Put your understanding to the test
Answer all three questions correctly to complete this lesson. Feedback is part of the learning; you can try again.
Your results are saved in this browser. Academy completion is a learning record, not a professional certification.
