The Hidden Costs of Data Contracts
Data contracts are often presented as a new approach to managing data exchange, but they largely rename established enterprise functions related to data capture, transformation, and delivery. This article clarifies the distinct responsibilities and control boundaries within these components, highlighting the risks of conflating labeling with architecture. Understanding this history reveals persistent governance challenges and the need for explicit enforcement beyond contractual language. It also surfaces the tension between delivery speed and accountability that organizations must navigate. Recognizing these patterns helps leaders avoid recurring failures in data trust and operational cost.