# Modern data platform architecture — planning worksheet

Reference guide: https://programmatic.llc/resources/modern-data-platform-architecture

Audience: Data architects, domain owners and platform teams designing shared data products and consumer interfaces.

Intended output: A layered platform design with data ownership, quality contracts and serving requirements.

## Working context

- Workflow / system:
- Accountable owner:
- Date:
- Scope and constraints:

## Review checklist

- [ ] Are consumers and their needs identified?
  List the reporting, application or AI consumers and the freshness, access and quality they need.

  Evidence / open question:
  Owner / next action:

- [ ] Are data domains and owners explicit?
  Assign responsibility for source meaning, transformation logic and the published data contract.

  Evidence / open question:
  Owner / next action:

- [ ] Is replay and correction designed?
  Specify how late data, schema changes and corrected source records propagate without unexplained duplication.

  Evidence / open question:
  Owner / next action:

- [ ] Are quality failures actionable?
  Identify the signals, owners and recovery process for failed tests, stale sources and broken consumer interfaces.

  Evidence / open question:
  Owner / next action:

## Reference sequence

### Capture source changes

Choose ingestion patterns based on source behavior, delivery windows and replay requirements.

Expected artifact: Traceable source data with freshness context

### Store and transform

Separate raw inputs from curated models and preserve lineage through tested transformations.

Expected artifact: Versioned, quality-checked datasets

### Publish data products

Expose stable definitions and access-controlled interfaces for analytical or application consumers.

Expected artifact: Consumer-ready data contracts

### Operate across layers

Monitor freshness, quality and failures with named ownership and an actionable recovery path.

Expected artifact: An observable platform operating model

## Decision record

- Decision:
- Evidence considered:
- Remaining assumptions:
- Acceptance criteria:
- Reviewer:
- Next review date:

This worksheet supports discussion; completion is not a certification or a guarantee of project readiness.